PARENTS WARNED OF NEW, LEGAL HALLUCINOGENIC DRUG

Salvia, a relative of flowering sages, is considered by experts to be
the most powerful natural hallucinogenic, almost as potent as LSD.

A hallucinogenic herb called Salvia divinorum is growing in
popularity among teens and young adults across the U.S.

Local law enforcement officials said they're aware of the drug and
plan to monitor its sale and use among teens, but they can do little
to stop local smoke shops from selling the herb, which is legal in
most states, including California.

Sgt. Mike Horne, a detective with the Ventura County Sheriff's
Department's narcotics bureau, said the use of Salvia divinorum isn't
a problem locally, but it may be targeted by police if it becomes
one.

Salvia, a relative of flowering sages, is considered by experts to be
the most powerful natural hallucinogenic, almost as potent as LSD.

Salvia divinorum is a small leafy plant discovered by anthropologists
in Mexico in the 1930s. Also referred to as "diviner's sage," the
plant is traditionally used by the indigenous people of the Mazatec
region as a healing and visionary aid due to its unique properties
when smoked or chewed.

A rise in the use of salvia in the U.S. was first seen in the early
1990s with the underground psychedelic culture. Its popularity
continues to grow.

The difference between Salvia divinorum and other types of sage is
the presence of a substance called salvinorin A, a naturally
occurring hallucinogenic. Salvia and opiate drugs, such as morphine,
activate the same receptors in the brain that cause dependence,
addiction and visionary effects. Salvinorin A doesn't test positive
in drug tests for opiates or other alkaloid drugs. Salvia divinorum
can be bought on the Internet and in local tobacco and smoke shops.
Legal in 44 states, Salvia has been under scrutiny since the
much-publicized January 2006 suicide of Brett Chidester, a 17year-old
Delaware resident. Chidester's parents blame their son's death on the
drug, with his suicide note describing his experience from his use of
salvia. "How can I go on living after I learned the secrets of
life?" Chidester wrote in his suicide note. "It took me 17 years, but
I finally figured it out. I can't tell you that here because that
kind of information can cause chaos.! "

In response to the suicide, Brett's Law was enacted in 2007,
prohibiting the use of the drug in Delaware.

Salvia is also considered a controlled substance in Louisiana,
Missouri, New Jersey, New York and Tennessee.

Although controversial, the drug remains legal in most of the country
because most lawmakers and law enforcement officials know little
about the herb.

Users of the drug report headaches, bronchial irritation, insomnia,
irritability, a sense of fear and panic, increased perspiration, loss
of physical coordination, visual alterations, loss of awareness and
an experience of multiple realities.

Research on salvia has found it causes depressive symptoms in rats
and monkeys, as well as anxiety and a feeling of restlessness.

Advocates for salvia believe the use of the herb should be regulated,
not criminalized. Regardless, both sides agree the herb causes
serious hallucinations.

People who've experimented with the drug experience hallucinations
lasting anywhere from two minutes to an hour. "When I took salvia, I
began laughing uncontrollably, and then the next minute I was
panicked and felt as if bugs were crawling on every inch of me,"
said Sean, an Orange County high school senior who asked that his
last name not be used.

"I became hysterical trying to scratch the bugs off me and ended up
hurting myself while my friends tried to help keep me under control.
It was a scary, horrible experience that I would never want to relive
or would I recommend that anyone experience."