title: Salvia divinorum: exposures reported to a statewide poison control system over 10 years.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Salvia divinorum, a hallucinogenic herb, has in recent years become popular among teenagers and young adults. Salvia is presently marketed as a "legal" alternative to other drugs of abuse, but little is known about the clinical toxicity of this substance.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to describe the clinical and demographic features of this emerging substance of recreational abuse using data obtained from the records of a poison control center.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed retrospective review of exposures to the herbal hallucinogen Salvia divinorum as reported to the California Poison Control System (CPCS) over the last 10 years. Demographic and clinical data were collected and compiled from the computerized records of the CPCS for the search terms "salvia" and "sage."
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 37 exposures to S. divinorum and 96 exposures to non-hallucinogenic Salvia species. Eighteen (49%) of the exposures were to S. divinorum alone. Intentional Salvia exposures resulted in a variety of neurologic, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal effects. Notably, the use of concomitant substances of abuse was associated with a high rate of complications and psychomotor disturbances.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intentional use of S. divinorum, whether alone or in combination with alcoholic beverages and other drugs, causes neurologic, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal effects. This poison-center-based review helps to characterize the clinical toxicity of S. divinorum, but more clinical and pharmacologic research is warranted for this rapidly emerging substance of abuse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA.
authors.forename: Rais
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vohra
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seefeld
authors.forename: F Lee
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Cantrell
authors.forename: Richard F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Clark
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002140:California; D001892:Camphanes; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003221:Confusion / Q000139:chemically induced; D004244:Dizziness / Q000139:chemically induced; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000506:poisoning*; D005260:Female; D005483:Flushing / Q000139:chemically induced; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000139:chemically induced; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053723:Panax notoginseng; D011039:Poison Control Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D027544:Salvia / Q000506:poisoning*; D027561:Salvia miltiorrhiza; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000139:chemically induced; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001892:Camphanes; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D006213:Hallucinogens; C000604051:danshen dripping pill