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Salvia: A Powerful Herb with Potentially Dangerous Consequences
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| Wednesday, October 18th, 2006 | Kristen DiPaolo | CWK Producer |
“My friend just brought over [some salvia] one day. And I was like, ‘Alright.’ I mean, I’d never heard of it before - but he said he had bought it down the street at the head shop and I was like, ‘Alright, whatever. We’ll see what it does.’”
– Nick Nehf, 18-years-old
Nick Nehf once tried salvia — an herb some teens smoke to get high.
"It’s like intense hallucinations for a short amount of time," says Nick. "And then it goes away. Leaves you kind of feeling numb and stoned."
College freshman Henri Hollis and Thomas Steed say they have a friend who’s tried it.
"He smoked it and then went to scratch his head," says Henri, "and can’t remember anything after that."
"And his friend said he was just going like that (flailing arms) for like 20 minutes straight," adds Thomas.
Salvia is gaining popularity because, in most states, it’s legal ... and sold in stores and on the Internet.
"My friend just brought some over one day," says Nick, "and I was like, ‘Alright.’ I mean I’d never heard of it before - but he said he had bought it down the street at the head shop and I was like, ‘Alright, whatever.’"
"The college kids justify that if they get caught with it, that there are no consequences," says drug counselor Heather Hayes, "because it’s not against the law. ‘What are you going to do to me?’"
What’s more, some kids assume because it’s legal it’s safe.
"I don’t know how it couldn’t be harmful," says Thomas, "with, like, how intense the high is and stuff. I guess if it’s legal?? I don’t know."
Four states have banned salvia, and several more are trying.
"We’ve seen the drug culture find legal ways to get high," says Hayes. "And then the DEA’s usually a few years behind coming up with the laws to pass, to make drugs illegal."
She says salvia can be dangerous.
"[Users] feel very out of control, it’s very scary," says Hayes. "They will literally have blackouts, and what we are seeing is a lot of people having accidents because they lose their coordination. They aren’t able to think clearly - so we are seeing people fall, stumble, hurt themselves and have driving accidents."
"Anybody who I’ve talked to who’s done it says they are never going to try it again," adds Thomas, "because it was too much for them."
The Drug Enforcement Agency, meanwhile, has salvia on its list of drugs and chemicals of concern.
Tips for Parents
- It sounds simple, but one of the best ways to keep your kids drug-free is to show them you care. Simple gestures like an unexpected hug or saying ‘I love you" everyday can help kids gain the confidence to say no to drugs. (Partnership for a Drug-Free America)
- Look for teachable moments. Talk about a recent drug or alcohol-related incident in your family or community. (Partnership for a Drug-Free America)
- Explain the principles of "why," and not just "what" to do or not do. (Partnership for a Drug-Free America)
References
- Drug Enforcement Agency
- National Institute on Drug Abuse
- Partnership for a Drug-Free America
