MINTY HERB SPARKS CONCERNS

Salvia divinorum: Resident issues warning after witnessing bad effects
on youth.

A Salmon Arm grandmother would like to warn residents about the
potential dangers of a psychoactive herb.

You might have heard the name of the herb on television reports in
past months. References to it on the Internet are many.

It's called salvia, or Salvia divinorum. According to encyclopedia
definitions, it's a member of the mint family and grows in Mexico. It
can grow to more than a metre in height, has large green leaves and
sometimes white and purple flowers.

Although it is legal in Canada, salvia is illegal or controlled in
Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Italy, Spain and
Sweden, is banned in five U.S. states and can't be sold in a few
others. Most recently, Maryland is considering banning it. A Jan. 29
television report quotes a Maryland senator as saying salvia is a
strong herb and should be ranked with LSD. LSD (Lysergic acid
diethylamide) is a potent hallucinogenic drug that was popular in the
1960s.

Salmon Arm resident Barbara Fraser says she discovered her 12-year-old
granddaughter was buying Salvia because she started stealing from the
house in order to purchase it.

"There were about three or four kids I know who were doing it, all
about 12," she said. "There's lots of it going on in town - I don't
think parents are aware of it."

Her granddaughter also experienced extreme mood swings, would sleep
more, became more secretive and would have extremely angry outbursts,
she said.

"They think it's a fun time but it's a very dangerous drug. What are
the long-term effects of Salvia?"

Fraser researched the herb on the Internet and was disturbed by what
she found. There are reports of people having bad hallucinogenic
experiences and one of Salvia being linked to a suicide. Warnings tell
people not to use it when driving or standing close to balconies.
Fraser's granddaughter said she felt like she could fly when she took
it, Fraser explained.

Salvia divinorum, also called Magic Mint and Diviner's Sage, is
smoked, chewed or made into a tea, and its effects are said to last up
to an hour.

It comes in different strengths.

Larry Greening, owner of JJ's Hemp Hollow in Salmon Arm, said it
hasn't been a big seller in his store.

"It seems to be a one-shot deal. They try it once and their curiosity
is satisfied. I get very little repeat business on it."

About a year-and-a-half ago, BCTV did a piece on it, he
noted.

"It created a little stir and people were coming in and inquiring. It
was guys 55 and 60 that were inquiring about it. I thought it would be
more of a kid thing - perception altering... It was all these older
people and I thought it was a little strange."

Until a few months ago he was selling it to anyone, he said, but now
he doesn't sell it to anyone under 19.

"I talked to a couple of other stores in Victoria and they put an age
limit on it to stop the controversy... It's not a hard-and-fast rule
in here. You don't want to be selling it to the kids."

Discussions on the Internet about salvia range from touting its use as
a 'vision quest' drug used for centuries in Mexico, to outlining
frightening aspects of hallucinations such as completely losing touch
with reality, becoming aggressive, and having a feeling of melding
with inanimate objects.

Some postings say banning it is a good thing which will protect young
people, while others say it is an over-reaction that will increase its
use.

Tracy Jones, local youth alcohol and drug prevention co-ordinator,
said she has been aware of salvia for about 18 months and has noticed
it's becoming a bit more popular. For school-age kids, the drug of
choice is still alcohol, she said, followed by marijuana, then ecstasy.

Jones points to the risks that can result from being incapacitated for
30 minutes by a drug such as salvia.

"There are STDs (sexually transmitted diseases), AIDS, just from being
victimized as a young man or woman."

She said although there might not be long-term physical and mental
consequences from the drug, "definitely you're at risk." Jones is
preparing an information sheet on salvia which she said interested
parents will be able to pick up at the Family Resource Centre at the
corner of Alexander Street and the Trans-Canada Highway.

Jackie Evans is a local drug and alcohol counsellor with Mental Health
and Addictions Services. She said salvia has not come to her or the
youth worker's attention in terms of people seeking help. She's not
surprised it's being used, however.

"In the substance world, we're quite familiar with people using all
sorts of substances to get high."

She, too, said alcohol has always been the most prevalent problem
substance. Meanwhile, Fraser, the Salmon Arm grandmother, would like
salvia to be banned or restricted.

"Somebody has to do something. It has to be stopped."