Salvia prohibited on Misawa

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Phillip Butterfield
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  In an effort to prevent any potential issues, Misawa Air Base has enacted a policy prohibiting the use of a commercialized psychotropic plant Dec. 16, by service members, civilians and their dependents stationed or visiting Misawa.

Salvia divinorum, also known as salvia, spice and a host of other names, is a psychoactive hallucinogenic plant illegal in most states as well as Japan.

Salvia is a member of the mint family of plants. When smoked or ingested, it can cause hallucinations properties and dissociative feelings. It falls into the same general category as other well known drugs such as LSD, PCP and psychotropic mushrooms.

"Some of the effects of Salvia are an unpredictable distortion of what a person sees, which may make a person react inappropriately to a situation," said Maj. Valerie Castle, 35th Medical Group urgent care clinic medical director. "Salvia also causes an elevated heart rate, blood pressure, increased body temperature, sweating, nausea, vomiting and an overall ill feeling."

Through salvia's effects, the drug has the potential to endanger the life of that individual as well as the lives of other members of the Misawa community, said Tech. Sgt. Brandon Cruz, 35th Fighter Wing Safety Office ground safety NCO in charge. Under the influence of salvia, a distortion of reality exists, which greatly increases the chance of an accident or mishap.

"Any time security forces apprehends someone and detects an illegal substance, it is placed into evidence," said Master Sgt. Chad Johnson, 35th Security Forces Squadron operations NCO in charge. "Next, the 35th Security Forces Squadron investigations unit is called in to make a determination on what the substance is and contacts the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. AFOSI will then test and verify the substance. SFS will then detain the suspect and AFOSI will handle the investigation of the drug issue."

For Salvia, SFS is here to enforce the wing commander's policy, said Sergeant Johnson a native of Mobile, Ala. The 35th Security Forces Squadron is actively seeking to root out the drug from the Misawa community.

"Drug use detracts from the mission," said Master Sgt. Stephen Hoss, 13th Aircraft Maintenance Unit support section chief. "Instead of getting aircraft ready, we need to stop and work an administrative nightmare."