What wrinkles? ...the nose on my face as I see young adults smoking Salvia Divinorum!?!

For those of you who haven't heard of the 'drug' Salvia Divinorum, here's a heads up for you. Why? Because it's considered totally legal and is abundantly available and accessible to our teens and young adults even though it hails from Mexico! It's effects are like that of LCD and PCP and if kids can find it, know how to process it or simply know someone who knows someone...they're in for a high they may not have wanted!!

While on the tail end of my vacation in Ontario, my friend and I encountered a group of youngsters (around 17 - 25) coming to party on the beach. They were drinking, smoking and toking the usual garb (Marjiuana). That was until a young lady brought out some Salvia Divinorum (to smoke, which has pyschoactive effects) also known as Diviner's Sage, Seer's Sage & Magic Mint. Salvia (non-psychoactive) version is often confused with Salvia Divinorum.

Users say that smoking Salvia is quicker and more intense than chewing it but the dreamlike effects are not long lasting. You may peak in 5 minutes then it's over or it could last up to an hour.


Back to that beach party...

So, this young lady brought out this processed Salvia and it was already prepared and ready to be smoked. ...and yes, I watched and listened from the corner of my third eye ;)

She then proceeded to tell this much younger guy/kid what to expect and what to do on his first try. She wanted him to sit down and inhale, holding it in as long as possible and for him to stay seated so he doesn't get hurt. That caught my attention and I immediately found myself within the little party trying to talk the kid out of trying it. Nosy yes and perhaps a little dangerous to stick my nose in but to say nothing just isn't in my nature and geez the kid just looked so young! He just smiled at, told me not to worry about it with an 'I'll be fine' as he brought it up to his mouth and inhaled the Salvia!

Back over in the sidelines we watched him stand (he refused to sit) and he held it in until his mouth burst open, exhaling a huge puff of smoke with a gigantic smile on his face. He then began to laugh out loud so hard that he teared up and could not stand up (someone got a lawn chair under him). Through tears of laughter? he mumbled that he couldn't see then continued to laugh hysterically as strings of drool puddled at his feet!! His 'friends' were all laughing at him and seemed to think it was the funniest thing they'd ever seen...I just wanted to cry for him.

I continued to watch and after about 5 minutes the kid managed to speak in a manner that was legible. He proceeded to say that he had no idea what had happened or what went on so, I made my way back over and asked him if he was okay. That's when he said to me 'I'm okay but it wasn't funny, in fact I was scared because I thought people were trying to hurt me?!' So, that was nervous laughter? This boy was absolutely vulnerable under Salvia and yet every other youngster was eager to try it, even after watching him and that gong show he'd just put on?!?? What's with today's kids, it sounds absolutley terrifying to me...why would you want to chase a high that has you non-functional, weak and scared?!

That group of kids beetled off out of the area very soon after he returned to 'normal'. No, I didn't call the cops because I had no phone...hmmm, best watch where we take strolls although oddly enough they weren't concerned with an audience being present, why not? why no fear?
   
A news article by CityTV Toronto posted back in 2007
Salvia - Legal High But Still Cause For Concern

An excellent resource for everything Salvia and a must read for concerned parents! ...and here's a YouTube video entitled 'Salvia divinorum: the YouTube Experience' just to give you some more insight and to it's growing popularity and what our kids may be up to!!