Addiction Science Forum

As one who has personal experience with the effects of salvia I can tell you that it should, without any doubt, be regulated. Recent research done in England has found that salvia can cause psychosis with one single use. There is no way of telling who it will affect this way, and what damage it can do to the brain. This same research found that continued use causes PTSD, very similar to what the Iraq war veterans are experiencing. The kappa receptors in the brain are gravely affected by salvia, and can result in severe depression, schizophrenia and more serious drug abuse. Why would the DEA and the federal government continue to allow this drug to be legal? Are they so out of the loop that they don't have a clue what's happening?

Hi Professor,

The question on the scheduling of salv A and the synthetic isomers of the drug may produce an interesting debate. The literature on the addictive properties is still rather sparse and replication of the existing studies would be beneficial. Carlezon et al. (2006) demonstrated that salv A produced a decrease in dopamine and no effect on locomotor activity. Additionally, Gerhke et al. (2008) has demonstrated a decrease in dopamine transmission. These depressive effects would seem to be contrary to the notion of Salv A being an addictive drug. Furthermore, these effects demonstrated by Carlezon et al. (2006) and Gerhke et al. (2008) may lend value to salv A and its analogs as potential pharmacotherapeutics. To play the devil’s advocate for a moment Braida et al. (2008) has shown that low doses of salv A increase dopamine efflux, produce a conditioned place preference, and rats examined during intracerebroventricular self-administration will self-infuse the drug. I believe further study of salvinorin A is in order before a definite answer to this question can be determined.

The previous post had commented on salvia producing first episode psychosis and PTSD. This is interesting information and I have ordered the Pualzen (2008) article from the library for further study. This may draw an interesting parallel between salv A and the endocannabinoid system with respect to the reports implicating THC in first-episode psychosis.

John

Kappa opioid agonists are dysphoric. People don't tend to like using them. Thus, Salvia Divinorum most likely won't ever be a drug of addiction.

The acute effects of Salvia are rather short-lived as well, and so the danger present from acute drug-affected behavior (violence, self-harm, lack of judgement) is minimal.

How much would it cost to try to police Salvia Divinorum distribution and use? It's a common decorative house and office plant. It's easy to grow, easy to process, and doesn't need to be transported far because it grows well in many climates. Probably too much, for how little harm it appears to do.

I used to take Salvia 5X when im a beginner at those times it doesn't seems to have acute behavior. but after some months when i jumped to 20X directly my friend (my room mate) told me that i have very less lack of judgment at that time; i mean i took a shaving razor instead of a water bottle.
However Salvia is easy to take and digest and its effects neutralized as soon as we get back to normal.
As Ossan said its really easy to grow after i suggested to one of my old neighbor he planted one salvia but we didn't managed to get the extracts. Its ruined by insects there

This is a very nice site really well put together i like it. I also found this other site it has some great info as well http://www.salviadivinorumblog.com/

Hello Professor,
Have there been any updates by the DEA on whether salvinorin A will be listed as a Schedule I substance ?

John

Hello Professor,
In consideration of this question it may be interesting to review the literature in terms of addiction liability. We could start with the experimental procedure hierarchy that I believe you had described in your book. Starting with the effects of salvinorin A on: (1) locomotor activity (2) drug discrimination and/or conditioned place preference (3) IVSA (4) ICSA and (5) BSR. I believe studies have been conducted in the aforementioned paradigms 1- 4. It would be interesting to write a review of these studies and also examine emergency room data on salvinorin A related incidents. This review should also include the potential therapeutic potential of salvinorin A and its respective analogs. Thusly a review of this nature would cover the issue of appropriately scheduling salvinorin A.

John

Needless-to-say, John, I strongly concur with your approach to systemically examining the appropriate preclinical models rather than relying on testimonials from personal experience. (And thanks for citing my work on the general topic; as always, I’m impressed and honored by your critical analytical talents.) I think the first step is as you suggest—a comprehensive review of the published scientific literature. I am particularly interested in resolving the conflicting findings from Braida et al. (2008). As you probably know, I’m always suspicious when a single lab generates ALL of the conflicting data and would therefore weigh the data from Carlezon et al. (2006) and Gerhke et al. (2008) more heavily. That’s not to impugn the reputation of Braida et al., just simply a question of empirical ‘votes’ on the issue. Comparison of the methodology of these studies might reveal an explanation for the discrepant findings. Meanwhile, the limited evidence seems to argue strongly against the regulation of Salvia Divinorum, except if society wishes to control any and all potential use of moderately psychoactive substances. Sadly this latter position is becoming increasingly popular in today’s society; my university now prohibits all smoking on campus (to extend next year into one’s private automobile in the parking lot or even while traveling the roads by automobile leading through the campus!). This has nothing to too with the issue of ETS (AKA “passive smoking”)—it’s simply a social control measure by those who would dictate what THEY consider a ‘healthy’ lifestyle. With this puritanical, unscientific mindset, Salvia Divinorum would most certainly be banned along with the many so-called energy drinks that have become popular with today’s youth. On a personal level, I have to interject that the 21st Century is certainly not what I expected nor hoped for—life is becoming increasingly Orwellian just as we thought we had safely passed through “1984” (but more on this topic later on another thread, perhaps the "Right to Use Psychoactive Substances" discussion or the Buffalo Blog Frog forum).

Hello Professor,
Thank you for your kind words. I too would be interested in comparing the methodologies of these studies. Several comparisons could be addressed from the route of administration, the vehicle used to dissolve the salvinorin A (salv A), and the experimental paradigm used to assess the aversive and/or rewarding properties of the drug. There should be some concern whether the vehicles employed alter the appetitive and aversive effects of the drug. Furthermore, the translational value of these studies should also be considered given that humans administer salv A by inhalation and the preclinical models use subcutaneous or intraperitoneal injection routes. One does wonder if we will see the scheduling of future psychoactive compounds based on the number of YouTube hits rather than the indications of the relevant research.

John

The active principal of Salvia divinorum is a diterpenoid compound called salvinorin A. The average concentration of salvinorin A in Salvia divinorum leaves is about 2.5 mg per gram.

Hello Professor,
The DEA recently updated (October 2009) the Drugs and Chemicals of Concern site on salvinorin A.

John

DEA Drugs and Chemicals of Concern site.

http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drugs_concern/salvia_d/salvia_d.htm

i have very less lack of judgment at that time; i mean i took a shaving razor instead of a water bottle. However Salvia is easy to take and digest and its effects neutralized as soon as we get back to normal.

Interesting information. Nice to know about all these details here. Great work writing effective posts. Keep it up.

Hello Professor,

Below are three references that would support that Salvinorin A and its analogs would be more appropriately listed as Schedule II rather than Schedule I compounds.

John

Bruijnzeel, A.W.
kappa-Opioid receptor signaling and brain reward function
(2009) Brain Research Reviews, 62 (1), pp. 127-146.

Carlezon Jr., W.A., Béguin, C., Knoll, A.T., Cohen, B.M.
Kappa-opioid ligands in the study and treatment of mood disorders
(2009) Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 123 (3), pp. 334-343.

Braida, D., Capurro, V., Zani, A., Rubino, T., Viganò, D., Parolaro, D., Sala, M.
Potential anxiolytic- And antidepressant-like effects of salvinorin A, the main active ingredient of Salvia divinorum, in rodents
(2009) British Journal of Pharmacology, 157 (5), pp. 844-853.

Hello Professor,
An additional reference of interest is Vortherms and Roth (2006). The author’s state; “Ultimately, clinical trials will be needed to resolve the potential role for selective KOR agents in treating mood disorders” (p.263). Further preclinical investigations are warranted in determining the therapeutic and abuse liability of the salvinorin A chemical scaffold in animal models of psychiatric disorders and addiction liability before scheduling is implemented.

John

Vortherms, T.A., Roth, B.L.
Salvinorin A from natural product to human therapeutics
(2006) Molecular Interventions, 6 (5), pp. 257-265.

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