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Hill officials ban Salvia plant

  • Published
  • By Mitch Shaw
  • 75th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  Use of the plant Salvia Divinorum, commonly called Salvia, has been declared illegal for all military members at Hill.

Salvia often is advertised as a 'legal high' because it is not currently considered a controlled substance. It can be purchased legally over the Internet and in some commercial establishments. An herb in the mint family, Salvia is found in the region of Oaxaca, Mexico. Users experience hallucinations, distortion of linear time, dizziness, lack of coordination and other psychological reactions.

Scientific information on this drug is limited, which concerns military officials.

"Users can easily dose themselves at a higher level than they intend," said Lt. Col. (Dr.) James Bennion, 75th Medical Operations Squadron. "They can become physically active while experiencing powerful hallucinations that interfere with their connection to reality. They can be mentally impaired for hours after the hallucinogenic effects have worn off and forget things they said and did."

Hill officials say use of Salvia is not compatible with being on active duty.

"The use of Salvia by a military member assigned to Hill has the potential to endanger the life of that individual as well as the lives of other military members," said Maj. Gen. Kevin Sullivan, Ogden Air Logistics Center commander. "The use of Salvia could seriously undermine our mission and negatively impact our ability to support the war fighters we serve."

Since General Sullivan issued a policy letter in January, single usage or possession of Salvia could result in the end of a military career. By disobeying the order, one is in violation of Article 92, Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Repercussions could include Personal Reliability Program decertification, revocation of security clearance, disciplinary action under the UCMJ and discharge from the U.S. Air Force for drug use, which carries a characterization of general or under other than honorable conditions.