Salvia Symptoms and Warning Signs

Salvia Info

• Salvia Addiction and Abuse
• Salvia Symptoms and Warning Signs
• Salvia Treatment and Rehab
• Salvia Withdrawal and Detox

Salvia was once sold in headshops here in the UK as a legal high. It is a Mexican plant that has leaves that can induce psychedelic hallucinations when chewed or smoked. Although a natural substance, salvia is covered under the 2016 Psychoactive Substances Act, meaning that it is no longer legal to supply it for human consumption. But that does not stop people from using it, particularly those still struggling with an addiction to it.

If you have a problem with salvia, you may have been under the impression that it was a harmless substance when you first began using it. This belief was probably reinforced by the fact that is derived from a plant that obviously grows naturally. However, abuse of salvia does not come without consequences, not least of which is a potential crippling addiction.

Although classed as a part of the sage and mint family, salvia has properties that make it one of the most powerful psychedelic drugs available. In fact, it is considered as strong as LSD, and its effects tend to appear almost instantly. Nevertheless, as the effects wear off after around only thirty minutes, the user may be tempted to take more. This can lead to increased tolerance and could leave the user at a higher risk of addiction.

The more you use a substance and the more of an impact it has on your life, the greater the chance that you could develop an addiction from using it. It is therefore important that you are able to recognise the signs of abuse so that you can act accordingly.

Other Names for Salvia

Recognising the Common Warning Signs of Salvia Abuse

If you have been abusing salvia for recreational purposes or as a way to escape your problems, you might have increased your dosage as tolerance occurred. After all, if you believe that you are not getting the feeling you desire, you may be tempted to take more.

Your behaviour may then start to change as you become more preoccupied with using. You might start to become withdrawn and secretive in a bid to hide your doings from loved ones. Even if you believe that you have full control over your use of salvia, if think that you can stop any time you like and cannot see what anyone else is worried about, the very fact that the people who love you are concerned may be a sign of a bigger issue.

As your use of this drug continues to become a problem though, you may notice that other areas of your life are starting to be affected. Your performance in school or work could drop, and you might have a hard time concentrating. You may also start spending more money feeding your habit, which can result in financial difficulties for both you and your closest people – the ones you never wanted to burden.

The Dangers of Salvia Abuse

This could cause you to feel panicky or paranoid, consequently putting yourself and others in danger. A reliable therapist will know how to help you manage these effects.

Although salvia is not thought to cause a physical dependence, there is the risk that you may become psychologically dependent on the drug if you use it regularly. You might get to a point where you start to feel a real need for it, which could mean you struggle to function without it.

If you are compelled to use salvia, you may have little time for anything else, which can place a massive strain on relationships with those you care about. If you allow your use to get out of hand, you could eventually lose all the things that are most important to you.

To determine if someone you care about has an addiction to salvia, it is important to think about how they are using and when. For example, if daily life is being negatively affected by it, yet they continue to take it anyway, it could possibly be that he or she is in fact addicted.

If you find yourself being neglected by that person, that they no longer care as much about their hobbies and favourite activities, they almost certainly have a problem that needs to be addressed.

It is not easy to admit when the use of a particular substance is beyond our control. If you think that they cannot quit, or they have confided the problem to you, that, no matter how hard they try, they keep going back to salvia; despite promising that they wouldn’t use it, then you need to help.

Learn the Immediate Side Effects of Salvia Abuse

The immediate side effects of salvia abuse include:

Learn the Long-Term Salvia Abuse Side Effects

As very little research has been done into the effects of salvia at the time of this writing, it is difficult to speculate what the full extent of long-term abuse might be. Nevertheless, it has been suggested that it could possibly have a significant negative impact on long-term memory.

There is also the risk that flashbacks could occur, even many years after a particularly bad trip. Chronic abuse of hallucinogenic drugs often results in unexpected and sudden flashbacks that can end up interfering with everyday life.

If you are worried about the situation, then it is probably best to raise the issue with the affected person, but choose a time when he or she may be more open to the suggestion of help, such as after a particularly bad trip. Do not be surprised if you are met with denials and protestations that nothing is wrong – this is common with those who are unable, or unwilling, to see that their use of a chemical substance has become a problem.

Your loved one might know deep down that addiction is a very real possibility but may be hoping that by doing nothing, he or she can avoid dealing with the issue. It could be the case that they are not yet ready to quit or are afraid of what treatment will be like.

Failure to broach the subject though, however difficult you might find it, will allow your loved one to continue with his or her addictive behaviour without being held to account – this will do no good.

Detox and Withdrawal

Treatment and Next Steps

If you are addicted to salvia, you will probably need treatment to help you quit. It may be the case that an outpatient treatment programme is sufficient to help you overcome your need to use the drug.

Nevertheless, you might prefer the idea of an inpatient programme where you can get away from the temptations of everyday life and where you will have the opportunity to get well in the shortest amount of time.

The choice between inpatient and outpatient treatment programmes is yours to make but will depend on what your own needs, circumstances and preferences are. It is best to seek advice about your options so that you can choose the right programme to help you get your life back on track.

Rehabilitation will help you to learn the reasons you became addicted and will help you to address these issues so that they do not cause a problem at a later date. With psychotherapeutic treatments and holistic therapies, you can overcome your addiction to salvia once and for all.

Questions about Treatment