Mom Says Legal Herb Killed Son

Teenagers Are Smoking Salvia Divinorum And Posting Videos On YouTube

(CBS)  Of all the crazy videos posted on YouTube, those depicting teenagers smoking an herb called salvia divinorum, then seemingly losing control, are among the most disturbing.

Salvia is legal in most of the country and it seems to be a fad among teenagers, said Dr. Bryan Roth who studies the herb.

"It causes a very intense hallucinogenic experience," Roth told The Early Show national correspondent Tracy Smith. "People are more or less instantaneously transported into an alternate universe."

It may look like the kids in the YouTube videos are having fun, but Kathy Chidester is convinced salvia killed her only child. Sixteen-year-old Brett Chidester was a whiz on a skateboard, a straight-A student and the joy of his divorced parents lives. Then he started smoking salvia.

"He got withdrawn within the last couple of months," said his father, Denis Chidester. "And he wouldn't open up like he used to. I figured it was a teenage thing. Boys don't like to talk to their dads."

But Brett's mom did a little digging on his computer and found out he was buying salvia online and smoking it.

"He'd say, 'Mom, it's legal. There's nothing wrong with it. If it was bad it wouldn't be legal,' " Kathy Chidester said.

Brett's mood grew darker and on a cold Monday in January, at his dad's Delaware home, Brett Chidester did what his parents believe salvia drove him to do: he killed himself.

"My life as I knew was over," Kathy Chidester said. "It'll never be the same. He was our light and our life and it's gone."

While Brett's is the only known case that could link salvia to suicide, some fear there could be others out there. The journal Addiction says salvia is becoming increasingly popular among teenagers, which alarmed Delaware Sen. Karen Peterson.

"I thought this is not something that I would want people using driving around the streets of Delaware," she said.

Three months after Brett committed suicide, Delaware passed a law that banned salvia for recreational use. Delaware is one of five states to classify salvia as a controlled substance.

Since salvia is still legal in the rest of the country, you can order it off the Internet or buy it in a smoke shop. Smith went undercover in New York, where it's legal, to see how easy it is to get.

In less than an hour, she was able to buy it in leaf form, powder, and even an extract that comes in flavors. But don't let it fool you. Experts say this is the most potent naturally occurring hallucinogen.

"It should be regulated," Roth said. "It is more difficult for people to buy alcohol or cigarettes than this extremely potent hallucinogen."

The DEA is considering classifying salvia as a schedule one drug, which means it has no medicinal use and a high abuse potential like heroin or LSD. That would make it illegal to buy, sell or use in all 50 states.

"Because people are buying this through the mail it certainly would be a lot more effective if the federal government dealt with it," Peterson said. "And then we wouldn't have to deal with it state by state."

Still, salvia experts are conflicted. While most agree that it should be regulated, they also say it could help treat diseases like Alzheimer's and HIV and worry that a strict DEA ban will stop that promising research.

But Kathy Chidester is convinced that without a federal ban other kids will suffer the same fate as her son.

"I want the DEA to take action and I want it to be outlawed and regulated across the United States," she said. "I don't want anyone else to ever have this happen. I mean, I wouldn't wish this on our worst enemy."

[dreamer727]

i wonder if maybe he might have been using other drugs in addition to salvia?

it would make sense.

also i wonder if maybe his parents divorce may have had something to do with his state of mind?

maybe we need to look at all of the factors instead of right away blaming this death on salvia.

also, salvia is a very expensive product to buy, (generally more expensive than street drugs) where did he get the money to buy such large quantities to create an addiction?

can we really blame this herb that has been used by many different cultures for centuries? (with no reports of death or injury on its record)

maybe we need to think before we act on this and create another sensless prohibition like we have on marijuana?

[chileak]

No one has died from salvia. After I heard the news about it, I got some over the internet and have tried it 3 times. It is weaker than coffee. And I checked the internet on what was considered an appropriate amount.
This is another witch hunt in which the American people through outlets like CBS News will buy any propaganda.

[drmsnchns]

More people have committed suicide while using prescribed Prozac under a doctors care than ever would by using the natural growing, god-created plant known as Salvia Divinorum. Salvia is an antidepressant. It is an extremely spiritual, healing, ancient plant with possibilities too numerous to mention here.

We do not need our government regulating Mother Nature any longer.

More people, especially teenagers, have killed themselves over Love than anything... should we have our government outlaw Love too?

What''s next....... all herbs?.... vitamins?..... vegetables?

Outlawing _plants_ is against the will of the God that gave them to us.

[m00k0w]

How DARE you compare Salvia and LSD to Heroin? Do you even know what the Schedule system was created for? It was created by Reagan to fight against the ANTI-VIETNAM COUNTERCULTURE. Salvia is unabusable. If you try it and actually pay attention to what you see, feel, hear, and become, you will change your mind right away. Hallucinogens were the driving force behind the anti-war movement, because they actually make you smart and let you realise the truth. If everyone tripped on LSD one day this BS government thats in place would get overthrown and would get replaced with a system that actually works for the people, not for money. Money is all the gov''t cares about.

If you think that the legality of a substance determines how safe it is, you''re dead wrong. Alcohol is much more dangerous than marijuana but MJ is illegal and alcohol is legal. See a problem? The gov''t gets more money taxing alcohol sales, and makes more money apprehending criminals for weed since it would be hard to tax it.

They don''t care about you, they want the money.

Other related news reports and stories said that this boy killed himself because of salvia; there is proof that this a flat-out lie. They claimed that a piece out of context which he wrote in his personal diary months ago was his suicide note, because it said that salvia allows you to realise that life is pointless.

This is one of the few things you may think, but it will definitely not drive you to suicide. It sure didn''t for me.

[sagedoctor]

I''ve used Salvia for 4 years - it''s a very spiritual experience. It has nothing to do with getting high - and certainly nothing to do with suicide. This "report" was an attempt by the Early Show, to make the news through sensationalism rather than reporting the news through objective Journalism.

[sevenveils]

The DEA should consider making nicotine and alcohol schedule one drugs as well? Oh, that''s right, large corporations are making huge profits from these and then funneling large amounts of money into politician''s campaign coffers.

[mark48108]

Ok I finished reading the article and now I''m more pissed off then ever.
"The DEA is considering classifying salvia as a schedule one drug, which means it has no medicinal use and a high abuse potential like heroin or LSD. That would make it illegal to buy, sell or use in all 50 states."

Schedule one drug means that is illegal to do anything with it. So they will outlaw it and make it to where scientist in the US will not even be able to test it to see how harmful or beneficial it is. It is the same schedule as Cocaine and Heroine. It will just be banned. Isn''t it amazing that the government with no testing can decide that something has no medical benefit and can''t be tested to see if there is a benefit.


So the DEA who is NOT any kind of medical group is going to decide for the rest of the country that this has no benefit and is bad for you. No one listed in the article is a doctor or scientist that is actively study the harm or benefits of this. The DEA without the approval of our supreme court and make something illegal. The DEA is supposed to enforce laws and make recommendation to the people who make law. They are not supposed to make laws them selves.

[mark48108]

Ok I finished reading the article and now I''m more pissed off then ever.
"The DEA is considering classifying salvia as a schedule one drug, which means it has no medicinal use and a high abuse potential like heroin or LSD. That would make it illegal to buy, sell or use in all 50 states."

Schedule one drug means that is illegal to do anything with it. So they will outlaw it and make it to where scientist in the US will not even be able to test it to see how harmful or beneficial it is. It is the same schedule as Cocaine and Heroine. It will just be banned. Isn''t it amazing that the government with no testing can decide that something has no medical benefit and can''t be tested to see if there is a benefit.


So the DEA who is NOT any kind of medical group is going to decide for the rest of the country that this has no benefit and is bad for you. No one listed in the article is a doctor or scientist that is actively study the harm or benefits of this. The DEA without the approval of our supreme court and make something illegal. The DEA is supposed to enforce laws and make recommendation to the people who make law. They are not supposed to make laws them selves.

[emma915]

Is poison ivy illegal? Would a mother let her child smoke poison ivy? Wake up America! DON''T LET YOU KIDS SMOKE ANYTHING!!!!

[potsnob-2009]

The DEA works for the big drug companies, so don''t act surprised when they want to illegalize something that might have potential medical benefits.

These parents should be ashamed of themselves for what they are saying. Instead of taking personal responsibility for what happened, they blame an inanimate object.

I think their divorce would have had more of an effect on their son then some salvia.

They need to realize that drugs don''t kill people, people kill people. They are more responsible for their sons suicide then salvia.

Blame yourself for your actions, don''t make innocent people suffer by making outlaws of the population.

This story is disgusting, and these people should not even be given play, it is time we looked at the real issue, and that is the rising level of unhappy homes and divorces in this country.

Legalize Drugs!

[mariapastora]

Of all the crazy videos posted on YouTube, those showing drunken teenagers far outnumber those taking Salvia.

Why didn''t the reporter question Brett''s parents about his underage (that is, illegal) use of alcohol?

Why did the report focus so much on Salvia''s use by younger teens?

Why did it ignore Salvia''s more responsible and long continuing traditions of spiritual use?

Why did it ignore results from surveys on human subject (as opposed to rats) suggesting, if anything, that Salvia has an ANTI-depressant effect?

Why was CBS''s coverage so one-sided, completely biased and sensationalist overall?

[lucyglass]

as sorry as i am for the loss of an innocent child, the knowledge that i have of salvia cannot allow me to even blame salvia at all. salvia''s effects last about 2 minutes and at most you may think you''re couch is sinking in or that the room is spinning. never would it produce feelings of suicide, and would never last long enough, or have any long term effects that would cause any of this to happen. first of all, what is a 16 yr old doing buying anything online? salvia is atleast 18+ in ever state. there are plenty of disclaimers like not driving or doing anything on salvia, but it would never cause a suicide attempt. i''m so sorry for the loss of this boy, but this is not a case of salvia doing harm. it is strong but safe as long as an adult is using it at home. it is not dangerous to this extent by any means.

[dewatson5]

Mrs. Chidester is just another parent who, lacking personal and parental responsibility, points blame elsewhere. Unfortunately for peaceful entheogen users she is partaking in another misguided crusade against freedom. People like her will never learn and will never cease to be a threat to our natural rights. The world has no place for another sad excuse for a human being such as her.

I can only hope that, if she succeeds in stripping people like myself of yet another freedom, she takes her own life in a fit of depression far worse than what her son experienced.

[dewatson5]

Mrs. Chidester is just another parent who, lacking personal and parental responsibility, points blame elsewhere. Unfortunately for peaceful entheogen users she is partaking in another misguided crusade against freedom. People like her will never learn and will never cease to be a threat to our natural rights. The world has no place for another sad excuse for a human being such as her.

I can only hope that, if she succeeds in stripping people like myself of yet another freedom, she takes her own life in a fit of depression far worse than what her son experienced.

[interpreter3]

Sad and unfortunate story, but salvia divinorum is not to blame for this. Never mind the bitter divorce proceedings,etc.

The funny thing is, I put ''salvia'' into the CBSNEWS.COM search box and not only does it bring up the story, it brings up ads that link to where I can buy salvia divinorum online - way cool, thanks CBS !!!

A sad way for the DEA to justify it''s sorry existence!

[kaelinda]

Teenagers will do stuff their parents don''t know about because teenagers cannot be supervised 24 hours a day. They want to go out to be with their friends. They want to try illegal things like beer and cigarettes and marijuana and maybe even crack and LSD and ecstasy. You can''t blame the parents, unless you want to say that teenagers should never be allowed out of their parents'' sight.

[dewatson5]

Kaelinda said:
"You can''''t blame the parents, unless you want to say that teenagers should never be allowed out of their parents'''' sight."

I am not blaming the parent nor the drug for this misguided youth''s suicide. I am blaming him. HE is the one that decided to take HIS own life. However, his parents never seemed to be into their son''s life enough to know that he was depressed. To mask the fact that she lacked concern for her son''s wellbeing Mrs. Chidester is demonizing a simple plant.

Yes, kids will be kids. And kids to some very stupid things like consuming psychedelics when not in a stable state of mind. Instead of leaving it at "kids will be kids and I didn''t live up to my motherly expectations" Mrs. Chidester is launching an irrational attack against the freedoms of her fellow citizens. She should be looked at not as a mother doing what mothers do, but as an overzealous opponent of personal responsibility and freedom. Her way of thinking is harmful not only to my freedom as a citizen of this country, but also my way of life. She might as well slap a swastika on her shoulder.

[rustox-2009]

Funny how CBS made me watch a commercial for Walmart Pharmacy before watching this video. Typical!

Salvia has religious/spiritual uses, much more so than alcohol and cigaretts. Bleck!

[sagedoctor]

The problem here is Tabloid Journalism practiced by a major news source. The headline - "MOM CLAIMS...." That''s objective news reporting? It''s no wonder CBS news is rapidly slipping in ratings. Get back to reporting the news. If we want Tabloid Journalism, we can read The National Enquirer.

[brianfriend2]

This is just more government propraganda style misinformation. Trying to manipulate simple minds into believing "oh dear this is a terrible thing!" mentality. We need some REAL journalism and dig deeper into the reality of salvia, they get the moms point of view and just run with it, they dont talk to Seibert or others who study and live with salvia on regular basis and find out all the positives that salvia has to offer. And who is this kids mom to say what killed him. Like she''s an expert in teen suicide, maybe it was the divorce of his mother and father, why didnt she consider that had a negative effect on him? Even if somehow salvia had to do with him commiting suicide, that would be one death. Alcohol and tobacco claim over 250,000 deaths annually and are still legal. Hypocracy? Far more dangerous than these kids who smoke salvia once and get an intense inner depth journey, that scares the *** out of them and probably never bother to do it again. For most salvia is beyond thier conceptual limits. Dont report on something until you get all the perspectives...

[sagedoctor]

The problem here is not with Salvia - it with CBS. In this "news" item you used sensationalism to create a News Event rather than using objective Journalism to investigate and report the news.

This is Tabloid Journalism - much akin to The National Enquirer. Is that the current policy of CBS? It seems that you have opted for Perky rather than reliability, and rumor rather than fact.

[richslayerbc08]

this article is just plain dumb, another person taking the blame of themselfs and finding something else to blame the cause of ther sons or daughters death. its the same thing as parents sueing rock bands for supposidly having subliminal lyrics. the problem doesnt lie within the music or salvia its the parents or the son or daughters problem... and i know im pretty much just repeating what most of the other people commenting on this site are saying, but its the truth

[frankro]

I definitely believe that salvio could have contributed to this kid killing himself. My niece told me she had tried it with two friends...& she said it was a really bad trip & that she would never use it again. It really scared her. From what she told me she experienced....I think this stuff is much more dangerous than pot...yet pot is illegal & this dangerous substance can be purchased easily & legally. Not good. Anything that makes you hallucinate can definitely alter your brain.