Salvia divinorum use among a college student sample

Area of Science:

• Psychopharmacology
• Substance Use Research
• Higher Education Studies

Background:

• Recreational Salvia divinorum use has gained significant media and policy attention.
• There is a notable lack of scientific research to inform public understanding and policy.
• Understanding its use within academic environments is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the prevalence of Salvia divinorum use in a large public higher education institution.
• To detail patterns of use, including methods of acquisition and subjective continuance.
• To provide a foundational description for future research and informed policy.

Main Methods:

• A research note format was employed to address the knowledge gap.
• Data collection focused on a specific large public institution of higher education.
• Descriptive statistics were used to analyze prevalence, patterns, acquisition, and continuance.

Main Results:

• Salvia divinorum use was documented within the studied higher education population.
• Specific patterns of use and common methods of acquisition were identified.
• Subjective estimations regarding the continuance of use were gathered.

Conclusions:

• The findings underscore the presence and patterns of Salvia divinorum use in higher education.
• This research provides essential baseline data in the absence of extensive prior studies.
• Further investigation is warranted to fully understand the implications of Salvia divinorum use in this demographic.