This week on International Dateline Video Journalist Ginny Stein reports from America, where the rise of a hallucinogenic drug is wreaking havoc on the country's youth.

Salvia, also known as “magic mint”, sends users on a short but intense high. Despite the disturbing effects, almost two million Americans have tried salvia, and it’s legal in most states.

The active compound in salvia is unique, because it stimulates a single receptor in the human brain.

Scientists fear that the YouTube videos are creating unnecessary hysteria, making a Federal ban more likely, which in turn would curtail their research. While some politicians are pushing for a ban, others are urging caution: “Is this really a menace?” asks Democrat MP Ellie Kinnaird, “or is this something that is probably very limited in scope and…not the most fun, and therefore will not continue?”

Little is known about the long-term effects of smoking salvia. There have been rare claims of salvia-related deaths in the US, but nothing proved. However, Professor Roth admits there are dangers: “At the height of it he [a salvia user] didn’t really know where he was, so obviously the concern would be if he was alone…that could potentially be a bad thing.”

In 2002, Australia became the first country to ban salvia, citing a high potential for abuse and potential risk to public health and safety. Since then, a handful of other countries have followed suit.

Also in this episode, an interview with author Thomas Friedman on the global economy, and a look inside Mexico's death zone, the country's life-and-death battle against drug cartels.

About International Dateline 

SBS Dateline, which began in 1984, is Australia's longest-running international current affairs program. It has a well-earned reputation for authoritative and incisive reporting. Dateline has taken the traditional way of producing TV current affairs and turned it on its head. Reporters who used to travel with a cameraperson and sound recordist now travel alone and have the responsibility of both filming and reporting their stories. The reporters became video-journalists, gaining access to people and places that the conventional camera crews cannot.