Influence of Age on Salvia Divinorum Use: Results of an Internet Survey

• Published in: Journal of psychoactive drugs Vol. 42; no. 3; pp. 385 - 392
• Main Authors: Nyi, Pearl P., Lai, Emily P., Lee, Diana Y., Biglete, Shannon A., Torrecer, Gilsky I., Anderson, Ilene B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Francisco, CA Taylor & Francis Group 01.09.2010; Haight Ashbury; Haight Ashbury Publications
• Subjects: abuse; Addictive behaviors; Adolescent; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Age Factors; Biological and medical sciences; Data Collection; Drug addiction; Drug use; Female; Flowers & plants; Hallucinogens - administration & dosage; Health education; Health services; Humans; Internet; Internet access; internet survey; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neuropharmacology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; psychoactive; Psychoanaleptics: cns stimulant, antidepressant agent, nootropic agent, mood stabilizer; Psychoanaleptics: cns stimulant, antidepressant agent, nootropic agent, mood stabilizer..., (alzheimer disease); Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Psychopharmacology; Salvia - chemistry; Salvia divinorum; Social research; Substance-Related Disorders - epidemiology; Substance-Related Disorders - psychology; use; Websites; Young Adult; Human; internet survey; Drug addiction; Abuse; CNS stimulant; psychoactive; Use; Result; Survey; Addiction; Surveillance; Labiatae; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; Drug of abuse; Internet; Salvia divinorum; Age
• ISSN: 0279-1072; 2159-9777
• DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2010.10400701

An Internet-based survey of Salvia divinorum ("salvia") users was conducted to identify correlates surrounding its use. Salvia-knowledgeable persons were recruited via "social networking Internet websites" (n = 23) where notices were posted on recreational salvia group message boards (n = 69). Data collection included demographics, use circumstances, experiences, and age (current and at first salvia use). A total of 219 surveys were analyzed. Salvia users who were young adults (≤21yrs) at first use favored salvia for fun (OR = 1.94, CI = 1.08-3.49, p = 0.03) or to relieve boredom (OR = 2.06 CI = 1.09-3.91, p = 0.02), while salvia users who were adults (≥22yrs) at first use favored salvia for spiritual effects (OR = 2.63, CI = 1.02-6.75, p = 0.04). Being an adult at first use was associated with higher odds of concurrent marijuana (OR = 2.68, CI = 1.50-4.78, p = 0.0007) or tobacco use (OR = 1.94, CI = 1.05-3.60, p = 0.03). Over half of all respondents reported use reduction or cessation in the past 12 months (114 of 219, 52%), citing dishke of the high (33.3%) or loss of interest in salvia (28.9%). Reports of cessation suggest salvia use may be more attributed to curiosity than continual abuse.