Flakka Drug: Symptoms, Side Effects & Complications

flakka drugs

In 2013 alone, cathinones, created in China and sold over the Internet, caused 123 deaths in Florida, according to the United Way of Broward County Commission on Substance Abuse. Indeed, flakka has fueled a recent, bizarre a spate of public behavior, all occurring in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. On April 4, a man who had smoked flakka ran naked in the streets, claiming people had stolen his clothes. In March, a man on flakka impaled himself on a spiked fence outside the police station. In February, a man on flakka tried to kick in the police station door, claiming cars were chasing him. If you, or someone you know, is abusing Flakka, it’s important you get help.

Flakka Withdrawal Symptoms

flakka drugs

We treat all forms of substance abuse, including Flakka addiction or addiction to other street drugs. Our treatment programs address drug addiction, prescription drug addiction, sleep drunkenness and alcohol addiction. Resurgence Behavioral Health offers comprehensive treatment programs that include inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment, medical detox, and aftercare.

Signs and symptoms of Flakka abuse

Clinical signs of agitated delirium include tachycardia, hypertension, hyperthermia, diaphoresis, and mydriasis [34]. Although α-PVP is not a risk-free drug, this new synthetic Cathinone is beginning to dominate the drug arena in the US and Europe [35]. Some drugs may be more addictive than others, but any drug can be dangerous — even deadly — when misused. Flakka is dangerous because it adversely affects behaviors as well as physical and mental health.

9. Legal Status of α-PVP

flakka drugs

However, this method of administration makes overdose more likely. In a study with rodents, the acute administration of α-PVP at doses of 1–10 mg/kg by vapor or injection evoked a robust dose-dependent hyperlocomotion, likely involving enhanced signaling at dopamine D1 and D2 receptors [51]. Human psychopharmacological effects of α-PVP occur 10 min after a single dose (typically between 15 and 300 mg), peaking within 10–40 min and lasting for 2–3 h. The euphoric high from flakka abuse can last from hours to days, depending on the dosage. Sometimes the effects of flakka can linger for weeks after it has been ingested. Flakka is a dangerous drug that has many bad side effects, mostly including changes in behavior or mood.

flakka drugs

As cathinones are hydrophobic molecules, they can cross cell membranes and the blood-brain barrier. This allows them to interact with the monoamine transporters in the synaptic cleft between neurons. The cathinones also inhibit the reuptake of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and serotonin in the central nervous system.

  1. There is increasing evidence that α-PVP has a cocaine-like stimulating effect.
  2. Let Resurgence Behavioral Health help you put drugs and alcohol in your past with our high-quality recovery programs.
  3. But it can also cause agitated delirium and sometimes results in psychiatric hospitalization.
  4. Collectively, these findings support zebrafish sensitivity to α-PVP and show some parallels with its effects in mammals.

The hallucinogenic effects include changes in vision, mood, emotions, and body sensations. Meth is a white powder that users swallow, smoke, snort, or inject. It’s made from a combination of pseudoephedrine, a common ingredient in cold medications, along with other toxic chemicals. It can act as both a stimulant is it okay to mix antacids and alcohol and a depressant, and even a hallucinogen. This drug isn’t common in the U.S., but it’s used widely in Russia, especially among young adults as a cheaper alternative to heroin. “Designer drugs must stay ahead of the authorities and medical communities to keep their illegal business afloat,” Li added.

Collins and coworkers [49] used four adult male rhesus monkeys to study the self-administration of MDPV and α-PVP and directly compared the results with the effects of cocaine and methamphetamine. The results verified that synthetic cathinone MDPV and α-PVP could maintain a high level of response for an extended time and that they were more effective than cocaine or methamphetamine. Flakka is a highly addictive and dangerous drug, otherwise known as alpha-PVP (alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone.) It is an amphetamine-like stimulant that belongs to the cathinone drug class. Cathinones are man-made, or synthetic drugs containing cathinone, a naturally occurring stimulant found in the khat plant. The legal status of flakka remains a moving target as authorities try to keep pace with the evolving synthetic drug market.

It may also be combined with other, softer drugs such as marijuana. Flakka can cause paranoia and hallucinations that may lead to violent aggression and self-injury. Flakka is sometimes referred to as the “zombie drug.” Individuals high on alpha-PVP may experience an altered mental state that induces psychosis. The synthetic substance can also produce unusual physical strength. In some situations, multiple policeofficers may be needed to subdue someone intoxicated on flakka. Alpha-PVP produces a rush of dopamine in the brain, causing an intense high similar to that of cocaine and methamphetamine.

Despite the DEA’s efforts to ban flakka, the drug is still being manufactured and sold illegally, often through online vendors. The core chemical compound used to make flakka, online therapy for addiction alpha-PVP, is still legal in many parts of the world. The drug creates intense but short-lived effects, which start within 5 to 10 minutes and last about 30 minutes.

Flakka reduces the reuptake of dopamine which produces a state of euphoria and elation, as well as increased alertness and often aggressive behaviour. Alpha-PVP, or Flakka, is a Schedule I substance, which means that is banned for any use, including medical use, in the US by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). This hasn’t stopped dealers from making the drug available on the black market. It’s also called “gravel” in some parts of the country and sold as a white or pink crystal/rock substance that smells “foul,” according to Hall. If you have become addicted to Flakka, you can get help at Resurgence Behavioral Health.

Fort Lauderdale PoliceMatthew Kenny, who ran naked through a central Florida town due to the effects of flakka. The case of Austin Harrouff is almost certainly the most tragic of all the flakka drug stories, yet it’s hardly the most bizarre. Over the past several years, dozens of cases have made headlines and helped make the flakka drug as feared as it is today. Brevard County SheriffKenneth Crowder attempted to have sex with a tree while under the effects of flakka. While it’s both relatively little-known and almost universally illegal in the West, khat has long been and still is openly and legally used in its native region. He does not have a lawyer and has not entered a plea – but, Snyder told PEOPLE, he could die in the hospital as a result of either “sustained trauma” from officers or a drug overdose.

Known as the poor man’s cocaine, Flakka is both cheap and accessible, further increasing the potential for abuse, especially among young people. Man-made in China, Flakka is a synthetic version of naturally occurring amphetamine-like drugs called cathinones. Technically known as alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone (alpha-PVP), Flakka is one of a group of psychotic substances that first came to light twenty years ago as cheaper alternatives to drugs such as cocaine, LSD and ecstasy.

Recently, the abuse of synthetic drugs has re-emerged as a significant worldwide issue. Effective treatment typically includes a combination of medical detoxification, behavioral therapies, and ongoing support to manage cravings and prevent relapse. Little is known about the health effects of salvia, though animal studies show it may have an impact on learning and memory.

The use of khat and synthetic cathinones has increased worldwide during the past several decades. Apart from resulting in CNS stimulation and euphoria, these compounds exhibit other negative impacts, mostly resembling those of amphetamine. In the course of the last four years, Flakka (α-PVP) has penetrated markets all over the world, especially the US, European states, Australia, and Japan. This increase is mainly due to its simple preparation and low price. The growing number of seizures, intoxications, and deaths connected with α-PVP exploitation, and the lack of a relevant antidote for cathinone exposure, requires further investigation among toxicologists. In addition, national governments should take relevant measures in order to control the use of this novel dangerous drug.

MDMA, known widely as Molly, has been the cause of a number of fatalities and the recent round of overdoses that hospitalized a dozen people at Wesleyan University. People who use Flakka can display cases of bizarre and uncontrollable behavior. The DEA classifies flakka as a Schedule I substance, making it illegal in the United States. Schedule I drugs have no acceptable medical purposes and a high potential for abuse.

It might be a term of endearment in Latin America, but “la flaca” means something entirely different in the international drug world. Spanish for ‘pretty, skinny girl who charms all she meets’, Flakka is a highly addictive designer drug known for its ability to make people go crazy. Horrific stories of Flakka addicts displaying bizarre behaviour including running through the streets naked, gaining superhuman strength and engaging in violent acts, have led to it being referred to as the ‘Zombie drug’.

Hall says the drug is designed to cause the brain to flood with dopamine, a hormone that helps control the brain’s reward and pleasure centers, and then block the transmitters, producing an intense feeling of euphoria. “Normally when dopamine would be released, even naturally or even with other drugs, it then gets reuptaked — it goes back to its original transmitting neuron,” said Hall. “But in this case, its reuptake is blocked so it remains there.” Flakka is most typically made from the chemical alpha-PVP, which is a synthetic version of the amphetamine-like stimulant cathinone. Cathinones are chemicals derived from the khat plant grown in the Middle East and Somalia, where the leaves are frequently chewed for a euphoric buzz.

Flakka is a dangerous drug, and seeking help is crucial if you suspect someone is using it. If you or someone you know needs assistance, consider reaching out to a professional or a helpline. A few years ago, a new synthetic drug called Flakka appeared in Florida.


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