SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) – Even the most vigilant parents who warn their children about the evils of illicit drugs may be missing this one: Salvia.
Young people, including teenagers, probably know about it. It’s said to be the most popular new way to get high.
What’s behind the rise in the underground popularity of what they’re calling a “New Weed?” Salvia – also known as Salvia Divinorum, “Sallie D,” and “Sticky Purple” -- is relatively cheap compared to pot, easy to find and – here’s the startling part -- perfectly legal.
At first glance, a clear, plastic bag of Salvia looks like marijuana. Its leaves resemble hemp but it’s actually a member of the sage family, a close relative of the mint plant. That is, until you dry, crush and smoke the leaves.
Salvia packs a bigger punch than pot. Examples of young people smoking it and getting high are easy to find. (Go to YouTube.com search the word “salvia.” You’ll find dozens of clips of teenagers “tripping” on the stuff.)
“It messes up kids way more than marijuana,” said one college student who spoke to ABC 4 on condition of confidentiality. “I've done it before and I didn't like how I acted on it. It didn't make me feel good. I learned the hard way, this stuff is just not a good thing to get into.”
Others sing the praises of Salvia. “It was spiritual for me but it was just eye-opening. It made me think more,” said another Salvia user.
A Salvia high can also cause uncontrollable laughter, even hallucinations. “It's just really weird,” said one college sophomore. “Everything’s like going in slow motion, and then when you come back, you’re fine.”
Experts say Salvia, unlike marijuana, has no medicinal purposes. Just like marijuana, it can produce mind-altering effects, in some cases, more powerful than pot, causing users to lose control of their motor skills. That can pose a big risk to anyone who thinks they’re capable of driving while under the influence of Salvia. (Watch my “Salvia” story on abc4.com and you can see one teenaged boy try to get in his car and drive after he smoked Salvia. The kid couldn’t even turn the key.)
All this foreboding information begs one question:
Why?
