Salvia divinorum: exposures reported to a statewide poison control system over 10 years.
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.
Vohra
Rais
R
Department of Emergency Medicine, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Seefeld
Andrew
A
Cantrell
F Lee
FL
Clark
Richard F
RF
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
D001892:Camphanes; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D006213:Hallucinogens; C000604051:danshen dripping pill