title: "Quite a Profoundly Strange Experience": An Analysis of the Experiences of Salvia divinorum Users.
abstract: Salvia divnorum (an intense hallucinogen) is currently illegal in New Zealand under the 2014 Psychoactive Substances Amendment Act. Despite this, there is a scarcity of research surrounding Salvia divinorum and its effects in a New Zealand context. To explore the experiences of Salvia divinorum users, an anonymous questionnaire was advertised through flyers placed in locations where young adults congregate. A total of 393 people took part in the online questionnaire in 2010-2011, while salvia was legally available in New Zealand; 167 respondents had used salvia. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the resulting open-ended questionnaire data and three key themes were identified: the effects of salvia; the importance of set and setting; salvia use and pleasure/not-pleasure. Recreational use of salvia was situated within a broader drug landscape, with participants being drug experienced and "drug wise" (Measham, Aldridge, and Parker 2001). Use of salvia also appeared to be intermittent, with its use referred to as a novel experience. Thus, the recent criminalization of salvia under the 2014 Act may see a significant decline in use as experienced drug users look elsewhere for novel drug experiences.
authors.affiliation: a Senior Lecturer in Criminology, Institute of Criminology , Victoria University , Wellington , New Zealand.
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hutton
authors.affiliation: b Senior Lecturer, School of Biological Sciences , Victoria University , Wellington , New Zealand.
authors.forename: Bronwyn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kivell
authors.affiliation: c M.A. Student , Institute of Criminology, Victoria University , Wellington , New Zealand.
authors.forename: Otis
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Boyle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D055030:Drug Users / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007880:Legislation, Drug; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D027544:Salvia / Q000737:chemistry*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006213:Hallucinogens
keywords: Drug effects; drug use; pleasure; salvia; set and setting