Dear Yeshiva World,
I am writing to warn the parents out there of a dangerous but legal drug that is sold without restrictions in mini-marts and gas stations for about $20.
It is called “Salvia.”
Last night my son, a 17 year-old yeshiva boy who has never been in trouble, who eschews alcohol and illegal drugs, purchased some Salvia at the gas station mini-mart near our home without my knowledge or consent.
Believing it wouldn’t hurt him because it is legal and sold openly, he followed the directions on the packaging—which tell the user to smoke the herb in order to “enhance a meditative state.”
I was standing in the kitchen when my terrified son, grabbing at his face with both hands and screaming, ran from his room. “There is something really wrong with me, Ima!” he yelled. He was dressed only in Tallit Katan and jeans, and his arms, chest, neck, and face were bright red.
He said he kept falling down. His eyes were unfocused and watering.
Now I was terrified. I demanded to know what had happened to him, and he gave me the packaging. I told him I was taking him to the hospital, and to get a shirt and a coat on.
He said, “A shirt and a coat on,” and just stood there.
“You need to get something on your body so you aren’t cold,” I shouted as I grabbed quickly for my hat.
“Aren’t cold.” He repeated like a crazy person.
I was so scared. I got him into the car and drove to the hospital with the packaging and the remaining product in my hand. By the time we got there, he had stopped hallucinating and convinced me he was OK, so I turned around and went home.
On the way home, he told me what had happened and what he felt like. He said he immediately fell down as soon as he inhaled the Salvia. Then he couldn’t get up. He said blocks of color fell off the wall, and he couldn’t remember how to open the door. He said that when he spoke to me, he could “see” the words “crashing into” my ears.
Most importantly, he said, “I’m so glad you were home. I don’t know what would have happened if I didn’t have someone to go to. I was completely out of my mind. I am so embarrassed I tried it. I thought it would be OK because it is legal and no one cards you or anything and everyone at school said they had used it.”
Since the experience last night, I have been researching the “herbal supplement” known as Salvia. Some websites say it is more powerful than LSD or PCP, but its effects only last ten minutes (ten minutes too long!). There are YouTube videos, articles, and even a government warning about the “herb.” (Click HERE for the warning.) Event though there is a government warning – it is still legal and/or unregulated in most states (Louisiana is the only state it is illegal, and it is regulated in Maine).
Most parents, teachers, and rabbis have no idea it exists or what it does. Please warn your children not to take it, and make sure your school counselors and rabbis know about it.
It is dangerous!
Click HERE for some facts, from the a newspaper article online.
Salvia is illegal in Australia, Italy, Denmark, Norway and South Korea. California Rep. Joe Baca in 2002 introduced a bill to ban it in the U.S., but, says erowid.org, it is chemically different from schedule I and II drugs, so it is not covered by the federal law used to ban drugs.
SALVIA
salvia divinorum
* Other names: Diviner’s Sage, Sally-D
* Cost: Sold in various strengths for from $11.95 to $44.95 a bag
* Use: Similar to PCP, intense hallucinations lasting for 5-10 minutes when the drug is smoked
* Legal use: An incense or meditative aid, akin to sage
* Federal position: The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has the plant under review. The government classifies it as a psychoactive terpenoid, with effects similar to mescaline
* Why is it still legal? Chemically differences from schedule I and II drugs mean it is not covered by the federal law used to ban drug
* Where is it banned? Australia, Italy, Denmark, Norway and South Korea
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58 Responses
I think maybe kids should know that smoking ANYTHING, not just tobacco, is bad for you and that any type of drug, legal or otherwise, needs to be treated as potentially dangerous.
Im just wondering how such a good yeshiva boy knows how to smoke a drug?
To the mother,
You have performed a valuable service to the tzibbur. May no harm come to you or your children.
“….and everyone at school said they had used it.”
If this is the yeshiva world that has been created and nurtured, it is a catastrophic failure.
As a parent of young inocent kinderlach still in elementary school (and younger), I’m praying to Hashem for guidance! All agree, raising kids (and teens) in this dor is something our parents, grandparents etc., never had to face. Even the sage advice of our parents (especially on keeping kids safe and away from drugs) is something they can’t even offer to us!! Whom shall we turn to?? ואין לנו אלא להשען על אבינו שבשמים, להתפלל לפניו בדמעה ובבכיה
Is this the same salvia as the common garden flower?
Thanks for the post – I hope your son is okay and has learned a valuable lesson. As mentioned in the post above (#3), this is evidence of a much larger problem; have you contacted the yeshiva to let them know? I’d like to see 30 rabbis sign a petition about starting a new anti-addictive substance initiative across our yeshivas. Perhaps we can have a fundraising concert to raise awareness.
2, I hope you have as good and open and warm a relationship with your sons. I’m surprised you didn’t hock about a good yeshiva boy wearing jeans! They obviously do exist.
A LESSON FOR THE DAY!!!!!!!!
KIDS SHOULD THINK B4 THEY DO THINGS!!!!
Why mention the name of the drug….??
#2
funny, i was wondering the same thing….
don’t you think a 17 yr. old should know better-if you don’t know what it is-don’t touch.
and to the mother of the boy, you may wana check the friends your son is spending time with.
If this neshoma decides to not experiment with other drugs because of the terrible experience, then for sure it was GAM ZOO L’TOVAH. May others take his experience to heart.
I find it quite ironic that my dw and I were both raised totally non-frum in the late 60s and 70s and neither of us had even a puff of Mary Jane, yet today – Ha-Shem yeracheim – it doesn’t seem uncommon for kids in even the “best” yeshivos to be exposed to the insidious drug sub-culture and have easy access to drugs that are sometimes even supplied by frum yidden.
May Ha-Shem send a refuah and yeshua immediately.
-MK
#2, Hate to be the one to break it to you, but wake up and spell the coffee.
“Im just wondering how such a good yeshiva boy knows how to smoke a drug?”
I’m not professing to know anything about this drug. But if it’s sold in a minimart it doesnt sound like you have to roll it. Also, the mother said he handed her a package which would to me in my (humble) mind would indicate a package kinda like cigarettes.
#11- how do you SPELL coffee? Maybe you should wake up and learn to spell
It’s good to know the name of the drug. On the Internet, of all places, do you think you wouldn’t be able to pull up the name of the drug if she hasn’t mentioned it? A simple Google search would have probably pulled it up, so why waste our time?
I wish you much Hatzlacha raising your children and they should give you only nachas and simcha.
I think this incident speaks of kids (in general, not judging anyone here, chas viShalom) needing more of our validation so they don’t go off trying stupid things like smoking herbs, cigarettes, drugs, etc. instead. To hear that a “good boy” wanted to try smoking an herb, is frightening to me. What gives a kid the idea that s/he needs to get into a trance-like state? What is this madness? Hashem Yishmor viyatzileinu mikal ra.
A mom its time for all moms to relize that probbley 30% of teens try drugs because they are depressed; so if u know that your child is depressed chances are that he will try drugs 1st a legal one then…..
Why is it that the Yeshiva world readers dont realize what a large mixed group they are. O bviously “Yeshiva” is a Frum boys HS–not necessarily a “Yeshivish” place. He was dressed only in Tallit Katan and jeans—doesnt that clue you in as to what segment of the Yeshiva world we’re talking about? Because all of his friends have tried this does not mean this is par for the course in all types of Yeshivos. Of course all parents have to have their eyes open wide all the time–today’s world is very difft than the one we grew up in…and ALL of our children are at risk of being exposed to things we never woud’ve dreamed of…thanx letterwriter for that reminder
My compliments to the mother for having a warm and open relationship ( to some extent at least) with her son.
Contrary to the stupidity and head in the sand of # 1,2,10.
Many of the “other” kids get into trouble because this is the reaction they expect!
there is something wrong with the yeshiva system if the yeshiva boys are experimenting with drugs of any kind.there must be peer pressure to get the boys to try the drug. where are the rebbis?, masghiach? etc…..? i really think we are on a brink of disaster with our boys and perhaps with the girls also, i hope not. the things that the yeshiva boys are exposed to , today , are by far much more than we as parents or grand parents ever were exposed to.i wonder what the future holds in store for all of us.
baal boose
yes credits to the mother.
but can you explain to me how the child knew what to do with the stuff? yes, baruch hashem he was smart enough and knew to tell his mother. but a piece to this puzzle is missing. don’t you think?
For all those smu selrf complacent individuals out there. All thse who expand their ego by denigrating “someone elses” child for making a human error. If you continue your overly critical and judgemental ways, one day you might wonder what happened to your “ztadikel”.
The fact that this was your childs first experience with drugs explains why he got so high. I usually see cases with the opposite effect – children buying “salvia” and not getting high at all, finding out they just spent 20 bucks on a bag of oregano.
lgbg, are you from Boro Park or Lakewood? I just get that feeling… because you seem to be a very sheltered young woman, baruch hashem. That is a beautiful thing; I am even quite jealous of this baffled feeling of yours – and I am a young frum girl from Lakewood myself.
Most kids today would be able to easily figure out what is to be done with drugs in any shape or form. Even the ones from Boro Park, Lakewood, et al.
#17, let me assure you I know of people who went to yeshivot where jeans were most assuredly assur who have smoked pot.
I went to college, a co-ed college, and I never have.
It’s assumptions and biases like yours that put kids at risk, not wearing jeans.
Baal Boose-
I dont consider my remark one of stupidity. But thank you for taking the time out of your day to type this.
Yea, salvia is bad news. It’s a very strong hallucinogenic, but it’s legal because the effects don’t last long.
deliberatly.
sheltered maybe. but stupid i aint. my point was if the kid is such a great kid then why and did he get a hold of this stuff??
deliberatley
another thing, you include yourself as the sheltered one, cuz you said your from lkwd?
#14,#2 I guess I hit a raw nerve there. Anyways, you’re right with the spelling – must have been in a rush, but once we’re nitpicking – I was # 12 not # 11!
#29, *I* was #11 and, to my knowledge, I didn’t smell anything incorrectly!
-MK
How did he know how to use the stuff? It is legal whats so hard to figure out? Sorry to break this news: a kid sitting & learning all day, jeans or not, should be able to figure it out. It has nothing to do with where you live, how much you learn, or what you wear.We all know plenty of women who have tried over the counter diet supplements too. There have been some terrible side effects from those & yet they remain legal & are used within our community. Whatever community that may be!
Salvia has been around for a while and is a quick-fix drug. Doesn’t seem too enjoyable either. Just know that usually kids only explore new things such as drugs etc. when they aren’t as happy with what they inherently have inside (self-esteem) and family. Take this as an early warning sign, and don’t think that just because he got scared away this once, means he won’t ever go near a drug again. Hatzlocha and speak to him and see what’s on his mind perhaps. 🙂
Smoking is differant than drugs and thats a fact
השם ירחם
איך פארשטיי נישט פארוואס א ישיבה בחור טראגט Jeans, איך האב מורה אז עפעס פעלט פון דער מעשה
For all who wondered how a fine yeshiva boy kows how to smoke anything, I got news for you, its apparently acceptable in yeshivish high schoools to smoke cigarettes. I see the 15 year olds at the local “turnpike (lakewood feeder) yeshiva” in my town smoking outside all the time. I can’t believe that the Rebeeim who can tell them the nuances of exactly how not to make a cup of tea on shabbos can’t explain this balatant issur. I for one do not support this local yeshiva for that reason.
The “stupidity” is 1) EVERYONE knows smoking is bad. 2) it’s not the issue of this mother how the kid knows how to smoke, everyone knows how to smoke, and today’s yeshiva scene has drug users like it or not.
Very sorry for the strong language, but I wish people would be more mekarev b”yemin than Dochek B”smol. Any kid with trouble will not respond to criticism. High standards are okay, but only with a good heart. And any kid can read right through you, in an instant.
To deliberate; Hang in there, with time, situations and circumstances change.
after reading this terrible story and really feeling for the mother, it is amazing to see how many people can write things that can be so hurtful to the mother. be thankful that she is warning all of you.
One thing that strikes me as strange about the whole incident (and that nobody picked up on!) is the fact that this mother took the time to drive her son to the hospital. The way the article sounded she should have immediately called Hatzoloh. I would have thought that to be an immediate gut reaction.
How can so many people be so temmimusdik and naive? Drug smoking is rampant amongst the Yeshiva bochur community. I don’t mean all bochurim do drugs but my educated guess as an insider is that one in three have tried some kind of drug, and I don’t include tobacco, at one stage. Of those another third will continue experimenting and can be defined as drug users. There are circles where none of the bochurim would know what a joint was or what to do with it, there are others where all of them would and see nothing wrong with it. And don’t assume the jeans wearers are those who always fall in. Don’t stereotype. If you do you are wrong, wrong, wrong. At least drug taking is one of the destructive vices affecting young people that is vaguely openly talked about and can therefore be faced up to and dealt with by those who do not bury their heads in the sand. Would that the same could be said for the rampant sexual promiscuity that also plagues our communities.
Maybe I’m missing something, but what he did wasn’t illegal, and from what I can tell wasn’t dangerous.
Whats the problem?
does it really make a difference if the boy was wearing jeans or not? I have seen plenty of chassidishe men w/ lainger paiyos wear jeans to work
#41 (Wake up): Wake up. You’re sleeping.
lgbg: You are reinforcing my theory. I think that if you would have any idea of what goes on within the hallowed walls of our frummest yeshivos & schools, you would be shocked. Drugs are not the worst of it.
…And yes, I’ve lived in Lakewood all my life, but unfortunately [whether it is my own fault or society’s], I can not pretend to be sheltered.
btw a TOTAL side point, I don’t know if anyone recalls what happened in Toronto about 3/4 yrs. ago in a kosher pizza shop, a jewish man was murdered. a few nut heads came in asking for drugs, which was sold in the back of the store, and when they were told that go to the gas station down the block cuz they don’t sell such things, they came back with a weapon and stabbed an innocent yid! This is how dangerous and how far ppl. go for drugs!! Hashem Yerachaim
Deliberately.
i’m sorry to be so blunt, but i’m really not that stupid. I do have somewhat idea what goes on in yeshivos. I do not attend a yeshiva so i can’t tell you exactly, but sadly to say i know guys who are mere 15 years old dealing with drugs, alchohol, smoking, gambling… the works.
Think of me sheltered if you like, but i’m NOT THAT sheltered. unfortunaly in this disgusting dirty world you can’t be blinded to see whats going on, walk outside and you see it all over.
“I’d like to see 30 rabbis sign a petition about starting a new anti-addictive substance initiative across our yeshivas.”
They can start with banning cigarette smoking by kollel lite and Yeshiva Rabbeim, since it’s asur anyway. Our young talmidim imitate their role models in Yeshiva,even smoking the same brand and graduate to higher thrills. Let them overcome their own weaknesses, which are asur in practice, before focusing on others.
lgbg
Something doesn’t match up here.
On the one hand, you’re wondering how a young boy “knows what to do” with drugs.
On the other, you claim you know guys who “deal with” drugs.
You confuse me…
Incidentally, I don’t believe that I have ever referred to you as a “stupid” person. I generally make an effort to be polite on this website, and I can’t imagine that I labeled you “stupid”; besides, I would have no way of knowing what your IQ may be.
All I said was that I am impressed with the way you remain relatively sheltered in today’s world. Kudos to your parents!
deliberately.
you bring laughter to my day.
let me rephrase myself: the mother of the boy wrote her son is a good child and doesn’t do trouble, what I don’t understand is if he is a untroubled boy than how and why did he pick the stuff up. Think about it, if a stranger offered a lolly to you, do you think you would take it? my point is, why did he touch the stuff, if theres a chashash something is wrong with it! do you understand yet?
and i never said you called me ‘stupid’.
It’s actually scary that in todays world people are so closed minded that they don’t even know what this guy did wrong
lgbg, no, I don’t understand you at all…
I give up!
Have a great day.
Please edit my last post to read:
It’s actually scary that in todays world people are so closed minded, that they don’t even know why what this guy did was wrong.
Wake up, it’s actually scary that in today’s open-minded-to-the-extent-of-lost-brains world, there is a young whippersnapper like you who cannot understand the problem with this boy’s experimentation. It is indicative of deeper emotional problems.
Are you the guy in the tallis katan & jeans that this scared mom wrote about?
Please re-read what I wrote.
I did not say that I don’t know what this guy did wrong. What I said is that so far no one has been able to tell me what it was.
I know many Issurim (and even possibly a lav according to one posek). Thats enough for me. But before people start yelling and screaming that this is against yiddishkeit, they should know why
Firstly, my heart goes out to this mother. Hashem should continue to help you raise your children biderech haTorah.
Secondly, I feel that some of the people who have been posting here have gotten it all wrong. This situation of teenagers trying or using drugs is everywhere, not only in certain sectors like we want to beleive. I’m 20 and many people that I know or have spoken to have had experience at least once with drugs. I personally never did b”H, but its almost shocking to hear that from a teenager nowadays.
We are living and raising children in a crazy and scary world. It isnt easy. Daven for your children. Really try to understand them without worrying about what other people will think (kids pick up on why you care and if its just for other people you’re asking for trouble). Listen to them now because if you wait it can be too late. And again- daven.
Just a peice of info that most people dont know- alchohol is also a drug. its very accessible and it can be just as harmful as any other drug.
I think you were lucky that he tried Salvia and not anything else. Salvia is relatively unpleasent and therefore unpopular. It is also easy to get. Hopefully the kid has learnt his lesson, an will stay away from hallucanagens.
what a story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RE: #45 – yes, the incident was horrible! However, the pizza store had NOTHING to do with the drugs. Nor was the man IN the the store. It seems some teens (frum,unfortunately) were “fooling” with these goyim, saying “yeah, go there to get drugs”. So they went to the pizza store, of course no one knew anything, the guys went outside, frustrated, and stabbed, in the back, several times, a wonderful father down the block who came to help his teenage son get his car started.
This of course has little to do with this lady’s story, but I wanted to set the record straight if anyone else should read this.