Internet access to Salvia divinorum: Implications for policy, prevention, and treatment

Hoover, Valerie; Marlowe, Douglas B.; Patapis, Nicholas S.; Festinger, David S.; Forman, Robert F.

doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2007.07.011

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Volume 35, Issue 1 , Pages 22-27, July 2008

Internet access to Salvia divinorum: Implications for policy, prevention, and treatment

Valerie Hoover, B.A.
- Treatment Research Institute at the University of Pennsylvania, 150 South Independence Mall West, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 202 686 2210x378; fax: +1 202 686 0094.
Douglas B. Marlowe, J.D., Ph.D.
- Treatment Research Institute at the University of Pennsylvania, 150 South Independence Mall West, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
- School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
Nicholas S. Patapis, Psy.D., M.A.C.J.
- Treatment Research Institute at the University of Pennsylvania, 150 South Independence Mall West, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
David S. Festinger, Ph.D.
- Treatment Research Institute at the University of Pennsylvania, 150 South Independence Mall West, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
Robert F. Forman, Ph.D.
- Alkermes, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA

Received 26 October 2006; received in revised form 23 July 2007; accepted 24 July 2007. published online 11 October 2007.

Abstract

This study determined the degree to which Salvia divinorum, a potent hallucinogenic drug that is legal in most U.S. jurisdictions, is being proffered for sale over the Internet and how it is being characterized on popular Web sites. Search results revealed that between one half and two thirds (58%) of the Web sites either offered to sell S. divinorum or linked to other Web sites offering to sell the drug and that more than three quarters (78%) of the Web sites advocated for its use. Many of the statements issued on the Web sites were erroneous or falsely interpreted the absence of scientific data on the possible side effects of S. divinorum as evidence that no side effect exists. The portrayal and availability of S. divinorum on the Internet are similar to those of other illicit and prescription drugs of abuse. However, much less is known about the short- and long-term effects of this novel drug. Consequently, there is little basis to contradict the many Web sites that encourage its use. Implications for drug policy, prevention, and treatment are discussed.

Keywords: Internet, Salvia divinorum, Web sites, S. divinorum