James Barrett, PhD

Do you know what salvia is?  Perhaps you should.  Salvia divinorum is an plant that when smoked produces short, intense hallucinogenic bursts.  It is currently legal in many US states, including Massachusetts.  Although there have been legislative efforts to make it illegal, so far none have been fully passed.  Teens are using it and they don’t really know what it is doing to their brains and bodies.  Salvia seems to be getting less press than other illicit substances, but clearly there are risks with any use of a hallucinogen.  It is unclear right now where the legislative efforts are going, but for now parents and professionals need a “heads up” about salvia, which appears to be growing in popularity.