This program really scared me–I was not aware of this. Take the time to watch it all–KSH.
This program really scared me–I was not aware of this. Take the time to watch it all–KSH.
Could someone offer me a brief summary as I am deaf. Thank you.
#1 From the video, Salvia is a mint-like herb native to Mexico that, when smoked, produces a hallucinogenic state for a few minutes. It is currently legal in all 50 US states except Delaware, which recently outlawed it. Jared Loughner, the Tuscon shooter who killed 9 people and wounded US Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, reportedly smoked salvia regularly. The dark-haired teenager shown on a skateboard and in several photos committed suicide at age 17 after smoking salvia for a few years. His mother is interviewed and says he was a good student, had a job and a girlfriend and was “a together kid” before he began using salvia. His journal entries describe his growing perception that life and humans were pointless and meaningless. They bear a strong resemblence to Jared Loughner’s journal and Facebook postings. Some are beginning to think that salvia use produces permanent negative changes in the brain. Researchers see potential for salvia extracts that can treat cancer and HIV infection.
Thank you, Milton. That is freaky.
There seems to be no end to the substances which can be used for wrong purposes. In some states proof of age is required to purchase cough medicine containing dextromethorphan because some kids are deliberately overdosing on it and dying. The limits on the purchase of cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine, a methamphetamine ingredient, are really annoying if one is going on a long trip. What’s scary is that so many people seem driven to misuse substances of known, sometimes great, danger.
The link does not appear on my screen so I can’t watch it, but I do have some knowledge regarding salvia. The son of one of my friends was addicted to it. It is sold openly over the internet, and is not regulated, controlled or banned.
It is sold in different strengths, giving different effects. There are different “stages” of usage, and you start off with the more mild stages and then move on to the higher stages over time as you become more “experienced.” The more potent the dosage, the greater the effects. Initially you chew it, and then move on to smoking it. Pushers of the drug claim it results in “lucid dreaming,” where you supposedly have dreams you are aware of and control. In even higher strengths it supposedly leads people to believe they are having out of body experiences. In the higher stages, it is recommended you have a “sitter” or “watcher” with you when you take the drug, in order to restrain you if you start doing dangerous or self-destructive things.
The descriptions of the effects remind me of the descriptions of taking peyote (I think that is what it was) in the “Don Juan” books that came out in the Sixties. (Fortunately, although I grew up in the Sixties and Seventies, all my knowledge of drugs is second-hand.)
If you see all Loughner’s ramblings about “dreaming,” and all of his weird actions like uncontrollable laughing, that’s a big tip-off he’s on salvia.
As for my friend, she tried to bring the dangers of what was going one with her son to various authorities, but for whatever reason no one wants to deal with this new drug. Fortunately for her, her son eventually himself realized it was ruining his life and he decided to get clean. He went to live with her ex-husband in another part of the State, and I understand has now cleaned himself up.
Katherine, I agree, it is disturbing to think of the deliberate abuse of so many substances by so many people. But I feel compelled to comment on cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine; a few years ago a friend took one and nearly died from heart failure — if I remember correctly, it may have interacted with some other (perfectly legitimate) drug he was taking. He now won’t touch anything with pseudoephedrine in it (and recommends only chicken soup for treating colds).
Laura R., it’s really important with all OTC drugs, and with Rx drugs also, to be aware of possible complications and cross-effects. I routinely read those hand-outs that come with prescriptions, and also check on the internet on any drug we haven’t used before. My daughter and I, for instance, can take only half-doses of pseudoephedrine, and she takes even that only when she is having trouble breathing.
The good news is that with a variety of medical problems including asthma the last thing my daughter would ever do is experiment with more drugs. She hates taking what she has to now.
Bear in mind that opium also has some wonderful real, PRESCRIBED, therapeutic uses; pain control being the one that comes to mind. BUT, in the wrong hands or used in the wrong form or dosage, it’s deadly.
The teens in the videos obviously have no idea what they’re playing with. I, too, have never done any drugs but the “outside” effects of salvia look similar to LSD; I imagine just the “high” is shorter. But it is possible that its long-term side effects include depression and/or an irrational view of the world. Caveat Emptorium, and the stuff is NOT a toy.
In one of the last episodes of The Sopranos, Tony and a lady did peyote(“buttons”). As acted(which could be an inaccurate misrepresentation of the high, true), they were much more “stoned” or “spaced”. The salvia high appears scarier because it is so much more erratic and/or wildly hallucinogenic. Why do people feel such a need to play with fire?
The twitching, erratic motions, and talking to themselves is kind of like people on ice (crystal meth). Unfortunately, we have lots of them here in that condition, including people walking around high outside our office building most days of the week.