Pattern of use and subjective effects of Salvia divinorum among recreational users.
BACKGROUND
Salvia divinorum is a member of the Lamiaceae family and contains the psychotropic diterpene and kappa-opioid receptor agonist salvinorin-A. Originally a shamanic inebriant used by the Mexican Mazatec Indians, the plant and its preparations are becoming increasingly popular among non-traditional users.


METHODS
Demographic data and information on pattern of use and subjective effects were obtained by means of self-report questionnaires from a sample of 32 recreational users of salvia and other psychedelics.


RESULTS
Involvement with salvia appeared to be a recent phenomenon. Smoking the extract was the preferred form of administration. Subjective effects were described as intense but short-lived, appearing in less than 1 min and lasting 15 min or less. They included psychedelic-like changes in visual perception, mood and somatic sensations, and importantly, a highly modified perception of external reality and the self, leading to a decreased ability to interact with oneself or with one's surroundings.


CONCLUSIONS
Although some aspects of the subjective effects reported were similar to high doses of classical psychedelics with serotonin-2A receptor agonist activity, the intense derealization and impairment reported appear to be a characteristic of salvia. The observed simultaneous high scores on the LSD and PCAG subscales of the Addiction Research Center Inventory (ARCI) have been previously reported for other kappa-opioid agonists, and support kappa receptor activation as the probable pharmacologic mechanism underlying the modified state of awareness induced by salvia.
González
Débora
D
Cátedra de la Fundación Cultural Fórum Filatélico de Psicobiología y Discapacidad, Departamento de Psicología Biológica y de la Salud, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Riba
Jordi
J
Bouso
José Carlos
JC
Gómez-Jarabo
Gregorio
G
Barbanoj
Manel J
MJ
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004224:Diterpenes; D045785:Diterpenes, Clerodane; D005059:Euphoria / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011936:Reality Testing; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa / Q000819:agonists*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D027544:Salvia; D012677:Sensation / Q000187:drug effects*; D013030:Spain; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology
D004224:Diterpenes; D045785:Diterpenes, Clerodane; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa; C090499:salvinorin A