Dear Dr. Argo

Dear Dr. Argo:

      I heard from friends that my boyfriend was using salvia for recreational reasons at a recent party. I confronted him about this, and he made light of it. He said that it’s a natural-growing herb and that I shouldn’t worry about it. It’s not something that was mentioned when they give you the lecture about “don’t do drugs” in high school. Also, I might be mistaken, but I could swear that my grandmother had mentioned buying some for her yard not too long ago. Now, I know you’re not going to tell me my granny’s a drug dealer. Am I the only one worried about this?

Sincerely,

Herb-Free In Florida

Dear Herb-Free::

You’re not alone in being confused about salvia. It has only recently gained attention as being a substance of abuse.

If you think your grandmother has salvia growing in her yard, then you’re probably right about that too. It’s highly unlikely that your grandmother is growing the illegal type in her yard though since the type of salvia that is generally sold for gardening in plant nurseries is generally not the illegal type.

In states where this form of salvia is illegal, plant nurseries would not be able to sell it at all.

There are hundreds of types of salvia. The one that is illegal is called salvia divinorum.

It became illegal in Florida in July 2008. It is in the same class of controlled substances as marijuana and LSD.

Possessing this form of salvia in Florida is a felony and is punishable by up to five years in prison.

While it is still legal in some states, this is due, in part, to the fact that it just had not been on the radar of legislators that people would be abusing it.

As information about it has increased, more states have been passing legislation to make it illegal to possess or consume. It is also classified as a controlled substance in several other countries, such as Germany, Denmark and Australia.

Salvia divinorum is a hallucinogenic herb. It can cause a temporary experience that mimics psychosis.

It can affect people very quickly and cause them to be incoherent and lose control of their motor skills.

Because of this, even supporters of this illegal substance encourage the use of a sitter to be with a person when they take the drug. It can be smoked, stored and chewed in the mouth, swallowed when eaten raw, or brewed in a tea.

There is no information regarding the long-term health effects of using salvia.

The bottom line is that we just don’t know that much about it yet.

You are wise to be asking questions about this drug. For more information on the facts about salvia, you can learn more at the following Web site: http://www.nid.nih.gov/.

It is also worth exploring the reasons for you learning about your boyfriend’s use of salvia from friends instead of from him, personally. You also mentioned he made light of it when you expressed your concern about his salvia use.

It can be important to pay attention to whether these behaviors are patterns for him. If so, then salvia might be one part of a larger concern you could have about your relationship.

Dr. Argo

For more information and questions contact the UWF Counseling and Wellness Services at 474-2420. Questions for Dr. Argo can be submitted in his mailbox across from the Nautilus Market, in the University Commons, or by e-mailing DrArgo@uwf.edu.