Pubdate: Tue, 26 Sep 2006
Source: Northern Star (IL Edu)
Copyright: 2006 Northern Star
Contact:  http://www.star.niu.edu/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2815
Author: Liz Stoever

SALVIA: A LEGAL HALLUCINOGEN

If you haven't yet heard, a new hallucinogenic drug  called salvia 
divinorum has found its way onto the NIU  campus. Whether this is a 
good thing or not, it's  completely legal in Illinois for anyone 18 or older.

According to the University of Maryland's substance  abuse research 
site, salvia is a hallucinogenic plant  that is native to Mexico. In 
August 2002, researchers  discovered that this drug had 
hallucinogenic qualities,  and that by oral ingestion it would have 
psychoactive effects. According to this Website, some of 
these  effects include feelings of floatation, spinning and  hallucinations.

Students who are aware of salvia have probably heard  people have 
reacted to it. Friends of mine who have  experimented with this drug 
have shared stories, such  as being a gnome or walking into a floating box.

"One kid [I know] thought he was a vampire and was  stuck like that," 
said freshman mechanical engineering  major Chris Skowronski. "It was 
a really bad experience  for him."

It's outrageous stories like these that have fueled my  curiosity to 
try this drug, as I'm sure it fuels yours,  too.

For the sake of informing students and despite the  warnings some 
have given me, I decided to try salvia. I  merely assumed this drug 
was safe simply because it is  legal. Unfortunately, there is very 
little health  information known about salvia. Researchers don't 
even  know how prolonged use can affect the brain and 
body,  according to the University of Maryland's substance  abuse 
research site. Regardless, it was something I had  to experience for myself.

I found Salvia at Smokers World, 818 W. Lincoln  Highway. Salvia has 
no label. It came in just a plastic  bag and looked like dried leaves.

I smoked crushed Salvia leaves with drops of  concentrated Salvia 
extract on them (there are  differing potencies of this extract 
available, which  enhance the altered state to different levels) in a 
glass pipe. After the third puff, I completely forgot  everything 
about me. I was in a different world but the  room looked exactly the 
same; I felt as if I was moving  and the room was moving with me. 
Minutes passed and I  was back to reality. Perspiration covered my 
face and  arms. The experience was not quite like the stories I  have 
heard, but Salvia definitely made me feel like  I've never felt 
before. The feeling was indescribable.

Based on the limited amount of people who are aware of  this drug, 
Salvia still doesn't compare to the  popularity of drinking alcohol 
or smoking marijuana on  campus, despite its mind-blowing effects. 
Salvia's  effects are too intense and short to be used as a party 
drug. Some people are afraid to even use the drug at  all because the 
drug tends to affect people  differently, and there has not been a 
lot of research  on the subject.

Freshman accounting major Lawson Dees said that he  would never try salvia.

"I don't know how it will affect my body," said Dees.  "I don't want 
to be addicted to anything. The idea of  hallucinating and not being 
under control is not high  on my list. I think any substance that 
causes you to  potentially lose control in a situation should not be legal."

Actually, Salvia is not legal everywhere and has not  been proven to 
be 100 percent safe. Salvia is illegal  in four different states and 
five different countries.  Over time, this may change since the list 
of countries  that prohibit salvia is constantly growing.

Like any other substance, such as alcohol and  cigarettes, using 
salvia will probably have some  undesired effects with prolonged use. 
But this has not  yet proved or disproved.

Salvia may not even stay legal in Illinois for long. It  is always 
best to stay away from new drugs even when it  comes to medication 
because there are many discoveries  that may arise in the future.

For now, salvia's legality is up to its users. If  Salvia users start 
to abuse Salvia or use it while  driving, the government will most 
likely question it.  If you decide to try this drug, use it 
responsibly.  Salvia's effects, though short, cannot be underestimated.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine