Brett's law

Brett Chidester was an aspiring American teenager who took his own life on 23rd January 2006. His death has been controversially linked to his prior experimentation with the vision inducing herb Salvia divinorum.

His suicide led to Senator Karen Peterson sponsoring Senate Bill 259 (aka "Brett’s Law"), state legislation classifying Salvia divinorum as a Schedule I controlled substance in Delaware.

It is difficult to determine how much Salvia divinorum really contributed to his death. In any case, other US states, including Tennessee (HB2909/SB3247), Oklahoma (HB2485), Alaska (SB 313), and New Jersey (S1867)[1] are following suit with proposals for their own individual legislations.

FACTS of the case are as follows:

• Brett Chidester died of carbon monoxide poisoning. It has been alleged that he was immediately under the influence of Salvia divinorum at the time of his death. Salvia was found at the scene of his death.
• Contrary to some news reports, Brett’s suicide note did not mention Salvia. Brett had written earlier diary / journal entries about his experiences 2 months prior. He wrote that Salvia made him realize "our existence here on earth is pointless."
• Brett's parents have conceded that he may have been suffering from mild depression. A psychologist who has analyzed his writings has said he was not suffering from depression severe enough for him to take his life as he was still able to maintain his straight A Honor Roll status, his part time job, and his relationships with his family, friends and his girlfriend.[*Brett was employed in an upscale retirement home that required monthly drug tests. All tests, including one done claudestinely, were negative. Post mortem drug test was also negative.
• Brett had told his parents that he was no longer using Salvia divinorum (though they did not believe him).
• Brett was an only child. His parents, tho divorced, still vacationed together with him as a family.
• Suicide is currently the third leading cause of death amongst 15-24 year olds in the US.
• The suicide rate for white males aged 15-24 has tripled since 1950 (source: National Center for Health Statistics, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)
• Over three months after Brett's suicide, with no evidence of any trace of salvinorin being found in Brett's system, Delaware’s deputy chief medical examiner, Dr. Adrienne Sekula-Perlman, altered Brett's death certificate and added Salvia divinorum use as a contributing cause of his death. Notes written by Brett Chidester, including his suicide note, were examined by several psychologists. They all conclude that these writings were "drug induced". Post mortem blood tests showed no evidence of drugs. Therefore DE's medical examiner concluded Salvia was a major factor in Brett Chidester's suicide. His close friends, family, and girlfriend agree with these findings and continue to mourn his loss.