Large numbers of people have been experimenting with a more-potent, legal hallucinogenic plant that creates a five-minute intense period of "derealisation" despite the Minister for Health's ban on hallucinogens, notably magic mushrooms.
Salvia, a form of sage, creates such a strong and unpredictable hallucinogenic experience that it is recommended that a companion be present when taken.
There is such widespread use of salvia in Ireland at the moment that a Dublin-based drug- awareness group has received more than 1,000 queries about it in six weeks. At a time of year when young people are gathering for holiday events and festivals there is particular concern.
Crosscare, a social care agency for the Dublin diocese, set up a confidential mobile SMS test service in April for teenagers and young people looking for information about drugs.
A person can text the name of a drug to 50100 and will receive back specific information about that drug and its effects. In its first three months, the text line received over 60,000 texts.
"We weren't very familiar with it salvia, so we had to do some research," says Crosscare's Michael McDonagh.
"We found out alternative health shops were marketing it as an alternative to magic mushrooms and it was up on the shelves the day after magic mushrooms were banned."
The Minister for Health introduced a regulation early this year under the Misuse of Drugs Acts. This outlawed the sale and possession of magic mushrooms containing psilocybin. Ms Harney banned these substances after meeting Eoin and Mary Hodkinson, whose son Colm died after he jumped from a balcony in an adverse hallucinogenic reaction to magic mushrooms containing psilocybin.
Until January 31st, it was illegal to sell hallucinogenic psilocybin mushrooms if they were processed, but not in their raw state. The new regulation banned them completely.
The Irish Times revealed last month a magic mushroom, amanita, containing substances which can be fatal, is not banned under the regulation and is still being sold. Salvia however is much more hallucinogenic and potentially dangerous, according to Mr McDonagh.
"We would have a lot more concern about salvia because we don't know much about its long-term effects. We would like to see the Minster introduce sensible legislation or at least monitor these shops." He says about 60 alternative lifestyle shops around Ireland sold salvia.
Darcy Petticrew, owner of Himalayan Crafts Ltd in Co Meath, sells salvia and says there has been a massive increase in demand since the magic mushrooms ban. "You go to another dimension when you take it," he says.
"It's so intense, you couldn't possibly take it on your own. We suggest that someone babysits you. For five minutes, you literally aren't there."
Salvia is sold in Ireland in dried leaf form that can be smoked or prepared in tea.
Dr Eamon Keenan, who sits on the National Advisory Committee on Drugs, says the committee is considering advising the Minister for Health on how to address the increased usage of salvia in Ireland.
"It can cause episodes of derealisation," he says. "If someone is suffering from psychosis, it could affect them badly. It's already been banned in Denmark and Spain."
A spokeswoman for the Department of Health confirmed that salvia was not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Acts. "Salvia divinorum and amanita mushrooms are not scheduled substances under the Act.
"The list of scheduled substances is kept under review . . . and substances may be scheduled if [ they] are being misused and are causing significant harm to public health."
Alternative lifestyle shops say a recent study at John Hopkins in Maryland in the US, which found significant therapeutic potential in magic mushrooms containing psilocybin in the treatment of depression, drug addiction and chronic pain, proves the ban was a "knee-jerk reaction".