Salvia is a fairly new drug in this century. It has been used by the Mazatecs for over 500 years and is still used today. This plant is native to Mexico. It is used as medicines, and ointments that treat many symptoms varying from stomach aches to migraines. Because Salvia is a legal drug, many teens and adults can get their hand's on this plant fairly easy. Once taken you begin to hallucinate. To ingest the drug you could smoke the dried up Salvia leaves or you could eat the leaves. The most common way of intake is smoking the leaves either out of a pipe or in rolling papers.
Hallucinogenic drugs cause both physical and psychological effects on humans. The physical effects of these drugs include: dilated pupils (occipital lobe), elevated body temperature (thalamus), increased heart rate and blood pressure (medulla), appetite loss, sleeplessness, tremors, headaches, nausea, sweating, heart palpitations, blurring of vision, memory loss, trembling, and itching. A user of hallucinogenic drugs will also experience a number of psychological alterations in the brain. These drugs may cause hallucinations and illusions as well, as the amplification of sense, and the alterations of thinking and self-awareness. It is quite possible to have a bad reaction to hallucinogenic drugs. This is referred to as a "bad trip" and may cause panic, confusion, suspicion, anxiety, and loss of control. The long-term effects of these drugs can be quite dangerous. These long-term effects may include: flashbacks, mood swings, impaired thinking, unexpected outbursts of violence and eventually possibly depression that may lead to death or suicide.
Works Cited:
"Salvia." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 19 Oct 2008, 16:20 UTC. 24 Oct 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Salvia&oldid=246308728>.
"The Effects of Hallucinogenic Drugs on The Brain Serendip's Exchange." Serendip's Exchange. 23 Oct. 2008 .
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