December 2009 Page 1 of 2

Salvia (salvia divinorum) is an herb common 

to southern Mexico and Central and South 

America. The main active ingredient in 

salvia, salvinorin A, is a potent activator of 

kappa opioid receptors in the brain1,2. These 

receptors differ from those activated by the 

more commonly known opioids, such as 

heroin and morphine. 

Traditionally, S. divinorum has been ingested 

by chewing fresh leaves or by drinking 

their extracted juices. Recreationally, the 

dried leaves of Salvia divinorum can be 

smoked as a joint, consumed in water pipes 

or vaporized and inhaled. Although salvia 

currently is not a drug regulated by the 

Controlled Substances Act, several states 

and countries have passed legislation to 

regulate its use.3 The Drug Enforcement 

Agency has listed salvia as a drug of concern 

and is considering classifying it as a Schedule 

I drug, like LSD or marijuana.

Health/Behavioral Effects

People who abuse salvia generally 

experience hallucinations or 

psychotomimetic episodes (a transient 

experience that mimics a psychosis).4,5

Subjective effects have been described 

as intense but short-lived, appearing in less 

than 1 min and lasting less than 30 min. They 

include psychedelic-like changes in visual 

perception, mood and body sensations, 

emotional swings, feelings of detachment, 

and importantly, a highly modified perception 

of external reality and the self, leading to 

a decreased ability to interact with one’s 

surroundings. 5 This last effect has prompted 

concern about the dangers of driving under 

the influence of Salvinorin. The long-term 

effects of Salvia abuse have not been 

investigated systematically. 

Extent of Use

In 2009, NIDA’s Monitoring the Future Survey 

of 8th, 10th, and 12th graders asked about 

salvia abuse for the first time 5.7 percent of 

high school seniors reported past year use 

(greater than the percent reporting ecstasy 

use). Although information about this drug is 

limited, recent salvia-related media reports 

and Internet traffic suggest the possibility that 

its abuse is increasing in the US and Europe,4

likely driven by drug-related videos and 

information on Internet sites.3 Because of the 

nature of the drug s effects its use may be 

restricted to individual experimentalists, rather 

than as a social or party drug.5

Salvia
December 2009 Page 2 of 2

For more information on the effects 

of hallucinogenic drugs, see NIDA’s 

Research Report on Hallucinogens and 

Dissociative Drugs at www.nida.nih.

gov/ResearchReports/hallucinogens/

hallucinogens.html.

For more information on salvia divinorum

and the Controlled Substances Act, visit 

www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drugs_

concern/salvia_d/salvia_d.htm. 

For street terms searchable by drug 

name, street term, cost and quantities, 

drug trade, and drug use, visit www.

whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/streetterms/

default.asp. 

1 Chavkin, C., Sud, S., Jin, W. et al. (2004) Salvinorin A, an active component of the hallucinogenic sage salvia divinorum is 

a highly efficacious kappa-opioid receptor agonist: structural and functional considerations, 

J Pharmacol Exp Ther, 308, 1197-203.

2 Harding, W.W., Tidgewell, K., Schmidt, M., Shah, K., Dersch, C.M., Snyder, J., Parrish, D. Deschamps, J.R., Rothman, R.B., 

and Prisinzano, T.E. Salvinicins A and B, New Neoclerodane Diterpenes from Salvia Divinorum. Organic Letters, 7, pp. 3017-

3020, 2005.

3 www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drugs_concern/salvia_d/salvia_d.htm. Retrieved 09-24-07

4 Roth, B. L., Baner, K., Westkaemper, R. et al. (2002) Salvinorin A: a potent naturally occurring non-nitrogenous kappa 

opioid selective agonist, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 99, 11934-9.

5 Gonzalez, D., Riba, J., Bouso, J. C., Gomez-Jarabo, G. & Barbanoj, M. J. (2006) Pattern of use and subjective

effects of Salvia divinorum among recreational users, Drug Alcohol Depend, 85, 157-62.