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PubMed paper - Salvia can cause psychosis in the young
Identifier
011325
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
A description of the experience
Adolescent salvia substance abuse - Singh S; University of Michigan Hospital, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
BACKGROUND: Salvia divinorum is a non-water-soluble hallucinogen that is becoming increasingly popular among adolescents. Salvia is a highly selective full agonist of …cerebral kappa-opioid receptors, although its psychotomimetic effects are similar to serotonergic agonists and NMDA glutamate antagonists. Salvia has been associated with depersonalization, laughter, feelings of levitation and self-consciousness. These effects resolve within 30 minutes following use. Salvia has been banned in many countries, although it remains legal and easily assessable over the internet in the United States.
CASE DESCRIPTION: A 15-year-old man with a history of salvia and marijuana use presented to psychiatric emergency services with acute onset of mental status changes characterized by paranoia, déjà vu, blunted affect, thought blocking and slow speech of 3 days' duration.