What Is Sassafras? | Sassafras Drug (MDA) Side Effects & Dangers

Sassafras is a common nickname for a recreational drug called methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA). It has both hallucinogenic and stimulant effects, which makes it similar to MDMA (also known as ecstasy or molly). 

As a Schedule I controlled substance, sassafras poses serious health risks, including overdose. 

What Is Sassafras?

Sassafras is a synthetic drug that usually comes as a pill or capsule. It’s also available as a white powder, which may be eaten or sniffed. 

All forms of sassafras are made from safrole. Safrole is an organic compound found in sassafras oil, which comes from the sassafras plant (also called sassafras albidum). Many Native Americans tribes used this plant to treat health problems like fever, cough, and diarrhea. 

Until the 1960s, safrole was used as a flavoring agent for root beer. It was also used to make sassafras tea. However, researchers then discovered that safrole can cause cancer and liver damage. 

In 1976, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officially banned the use of safrole in food products. Since then, people have continued to use it to make MDA as well as MDMA.

Effects Of Sassafras

Sassafras triggers the release of brain chemicals called serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. These chemicals influence your mood and behavior. 

Most people feel the effects of sassafras within 20 to 90 minutes of using the drug. The effects are both mental and physical.

The drug’s most common mental effects include:

• increased energy
• increased feelings of empathy and affection
• euphoria (intense joy)
• excitement
• lowered inhibitions
• anxiety
• hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that aren’t there)

The drug’s most common physical effects include:

• increased heart rate
• increased body temperature
• high blood pressure
• sweating 
• jaw clenching
• nausea
• loss of appetite

Typically, the effects of sassafras last between 8 to 12 hours. After the drug wears off, many people experience unpleasant aftereffects, such as depression and tiredness. These effects may last anywhere from one hour to a few days. 

The Effects Of Sassafras Vs. The Effects Of Molly

Although sassafras and molly, or MDMA, are similar, they have slightly different effects. In general, MDMA makes you feel more affectionate than sassafras, while sassafras makes you feel more energized than MDMA. 

Sassafras may also cause more visual hallucinations. In addition, the effects of sassafras often last longer than the effects of MDMA. 

Dangers Of Sassafras

Like other illegal drugs, sassafras can cause a life-threatening overdose. You’re more likely to overdose if you take a large amount of sassafras or if you mix it with other drugs. 

The most common signs of sassafras overdose include:

• enlarged pupils
• drowsiness
• nausea and vomiting
• faster breathing and/or heart rate
• trouble breathing
• seizures
• loss of consciousness

If you or someone you know experiences these symptoms, call 911 right away. When left untreated, a sassafras overdose can be fatal, especially if the drug has been laced with other substances, such as fentanyl. 

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid linked to numerous overdose deaths. Many drug dealers secretly add it to other substances, including sassafras. 

Body Temperature & Other Health Risks

Along with overdose, sassafras can also cause a dangerous boost in body temperature that increases your risk of kidney failure and death. In addition, it may worsen any preexisting physical or mental health conditions you have. 

Sassafras is also made from safrole, which has been linked to cancer and liver damage.

Is Sassafras Addictive?

Researchers have not yet determined whether sassafras is addictive. However, regular use of sassafras can lead to tolerance. Tolerance means you need increasingly larger or more frequent doses of the drug to feel the desired effects. 

The more sassafras you use, the higher your risk of negative side effects, including overdose. 

Sassafras Abuse Treatment 

If you or someone you love feels unable to stop using sassafras, seek help at a drug abuse treatment program. These programs offer a variety of services to help you become drug-free, such as:

• therapy, where you can learn how to manage sassafras cravings and any underlying mental health concerns that made you want to abuse drugs in the first place
• support groups, where you can discuss your experiences and coping strategies with other people who have struggled with drug abuse
• wellness activities such as exercise, yoga, and meditation, which can reduce drug cravings and boost your overall sense of well-being

To learn more about substance abuse treatment options, please contact an Ark Behavioral Health specialist. Our treatment centers offer evidence-based, comprehensive care on an inpatient or outpatient basis.