CLEVELAND -- A new, dangerous drug attractive to teens could soon be seen in northeast Ohio.

NewsChannel5's Tracy Carloss reported that federal drug agents are so concerned about the drug that they are taking steps to outlaw it.

Salvia divinorum, although legal, is the latest threat to children, according to officials. It's a plant grown in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico, and it's being smoked and chewed in some parts of the country.

"It would be dangerous for a child, teenager (or) adult to be consuming a plant that we know nothing about," said Dr. Michael Reed, of University Hospitals. "We have very little information about this plant."

"It does have hallucinogenic effects, mind-altering effects," said Trey Edwards, of the Lake County narcotics department.

That's why federal drug agents are taking steps to treat it like cocaine or heroin and make it illegal.

"It is a controlled substance in Australia, (and) St. Peters, Mo., has banned the sale to minors," Edwards said.

So far, the herb has not shown up on the streets of northeast Ohio, but narcotics agents are well aware of the potential problem.

"(We are) constantly monitoring new drugs (and) new trends," Edwards said. "We get information forwarded (from) other parts of the country. We share information with other agencies around the corner."

For grandparents like Judy Dolan, it's just one more thing to worry about.

"I worry about my granddaughter," she said. "Hopefully, the school is giving them a lot of information about drug education."

Salvia first appeared in the United States three years ago. Police across the country believe it is not likely to overtake the streets anytime soon, but as it becomes more available, it could become a bigger problem.

Right now, the Drug Enforcement Agency is collecting information about the active ingredient in the plant. That is the first step toward having it declared a controlled substance.

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