Α-PVP produces cross-tolerance with all dopaminergic stimulants, meaning that after the consumption of α-PVP all stimulants will have a reduced effect. Flakka is commonly referred to as bath salts and technically as α-pyrrolidinopentiophenone hydrochloride 0.786-hydrate (α-PVP). In other terms, it is a new designer drug made from a synthetic amphetamine-like substance marketed as harmless bath salts. The practice of jump-starting a cycle of Flakka used to counter negative come downs will eventually lead to tolerance to the drug. This will eventually require the user to increase the dosage of the drug to experience the same “high”, thereby exposing the user to overdose, dangerous effects, drug dependence and even death. The United States Code (USC) Controlled Substance Act is the system followed and implemented by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Traditionally, locals have chewed khat leaves for their stimulating effects. However, the synthetic counterparts, including alpha-PVP, have been flagged by the National Institute on Drug Abuse as hazardous substances. Unfortunately for people who take Flakka, feelings of euphoria don’t always translate to calm, happy experiences. When high amounts of Flakka enter the system, users feel what researchers call excited euphoria or agitated delirium, which can result in extreme side effects, including manic and violent behavior.
Flakka comes from China and is sold over the Dark Web to dealers in the United States. Dealers range from college kids needing some extra cash to street gangs who hire younger children to sell to their friends. Because one can buy Flakka for as little as three dollars a dose, the target market is typically young, poor people looking for an easy high.
- “Flakka largely emerged as a replacement to MDVP in ‘bath salts’,” said Lucas Watterson, a postdoctoral researcher at Temple University School of Medicine Center for Substance Abuse Research.
- However, as psycho stimulant, this drug can cause paranoia, hyper stimulation and hallucinations.
- Flakka is a synthetic substance that has earned sensational nicknames like the “zombie drug.” However, there’s a lot more to it regarding its chemistry, effects, and impact on the community.
- In small doses, Flakka can give users an immediate sense of euphoria, boost confidence, lessen inhibitions and increase libido.
- The addictive nature of synthetic cathinones, the family of drugs to which Flakka belongs, is underscored by withdrawal symptoms that include anxiety, tremors, paranoia, depression, and sleep disturbances.
The α-PVP crystals are packaged and look like other bath salts on the market. Because flakka’s potency can spark life-threatening complications (high fever, heart issues), using this drug can lead to emergency room overcrowding. In some parts of the country, it is also called “gravel” because of its white crystal chunks that have been compared to aquarium gravel. Call to start addiction treatment, learn how to use insurance to pay for rehab, or explore other rehab payment options. The drug’s effects typically last for 3-4 hours, but side effects can last for several days, even after just one dose.
When experiencing delirium on flakka, users might feel severe disorientation, not understand where they are, what day or time it is, etc. They are likely to lose rational thinking and rational behavior, which can lead to some of the bizarre and violent acts reported by users in the media. Any substance that causes this degree of hyperactive delirium becomes a danger to themselves or others. Alternatively, users could experience hypoactive delirium, which causes them to underreact to possible signs of physical distress or environmental dangers. These outcomes can depend on the amount of the drug taken and the user’s individual metabolic balance. The addictive nature of synthetic cathinones, the family of drugs to which Flakka belongs, is underscored by withdrawal symptoms that include anxiety, tremors, paranoia, depression, and sleep disturbances.
Medically Reviewed By: Dr. Mohsin Ali, MD
Flakka is a man-made drug that is part of a wider class of drugs called synthetic cathinones. They induce extreme mental alterations in humans and cause uncontrollable violent behaviors. Flakka is popularly known as a zombie drug due to the extremely violent zombie-like behavior (tendency to eat people) observed in people after its addiction and overdose. Harmful components present in Flakka can cause unpredictable effects on humans. Even in very low doses, it will induce a state of euphoria (prolonged state of excitement). People will start consuming more and more amounts to prolong this state of euphoria and end up in addiction and toxicity.
What Are the Symptoms of Flakka Abuse?
Α-PVP’s structure consists of a cathinone core with a propyl group substituted at the alpha carbon, and a pyrrolidine ring at the amino group. It can also cause extreme anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, and psychotic delusions leading to bizarre and out of control behaviors. Some say the name could be a variation of the Spanish slang word “la flaca” which means “skinny girl”. Some say the term is random and quite fittingly describes what a person high on this drug feels. A popular street name for A-PVP is “gravel” as the pink and white crystals look like those placed in fish aquariums.
Flakka Addiction
The euphoria effected by this drug is quite intense and getting off takes longer than cocaine or meth. In recent news, Flakka was behind a man stabbing and allegedly attempting to eat a Florida couple. This could be a possibility as aside from causing violent behavior, the drug also boosts a user’s physical strength. From medically assisted interventions to harm reduction policies, a multi-layered approach can help individuals and communities manage and prevent this dangerous drug. Norepinephrine buildup triggers “fight-or-flight” responses, such as increased heart rate, high blood pressure, and hyper-alertness.
What are the Mental Effects of Flakka?
Flakka became well-known thanks to a series of high-profile and disturbingly violent incidents, including one man eating another man’s face, part of the origin of the zombie drug nickname. This causes a threat both to the patient themselves and to the medical responders or police who are dealing with them. Delirium like this is often treated with sedatives and tranquilizers to make the patient calmer. Users are not always poor, however, and sellers are not always ill-intentioned, or even aware, of the dangers of Flakka abuse. Professionals believe that the Flakka trend will turn over to children and teenagers next, who will begin using their five-dollar allowances to pay for a dose (or two) of the drug.
After effects
The only evident difference between bath salts and Flakka is the lack of 3,4-methylenedioxy motif molecules in Flakka. Flakka is an artificial drug that produces stimulant effects similar to cocaine. Even in minimal doses, this drug will induce central nervous system stimulation and a state of unconsciousness similar to other drugs like cocaine and Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD).
On the other end, users will experience delusions, hallucinations, seizures, muscle cramps and spasms. In the worst cases, Flakka use can cause kidney failure, heart attacks, and a dangerous spike in body temperature. While flakka and bath salts are two synthetic cathinones that are illegal in the US, per the Controlled Substance Analogue Enforcement Act as of 2012, other synthetic cathinones are on the market. Chronic use of flakka leads to compulsive cravings and increased tolerance. A person with Flakka addiction may exhibit physical symptoms like increased heart rate, loss of muscle fiber, uncontrolled muscle spasms and other physical problems.
The extreme release of neurotransmitters can lead to the destruction of neurons, contributing to brain damage. Intoxication and overdose what is flakka drug wikipedia symptoms are typically similar, although additional overdose symptoms include organ failure. Delirium can present as paranoia, hallucinations, delusions, hyperactivity, apathy, depressive behavior, lethargy or other effects.
These drugs are human-made substances chemically similar to stimulants found naturally in the khat plant. Bath salts, in general, are psychoactive synthetic drugs (designer drugs) made in large quantities in foreign drug labs. Some brand names of synthetic cathinones include Bliss, Vanilla Sky, Lunar Wave, Cloud Nine, and White Lightning.
It comes in the form of white or pink crystals, and can be smoked, vaped with an e-cigarette, injected, snorted or swallowed. No matter how a person administers flakka, there is a high risk of overdose. Vaping has an especially high potential for overdose because there is no way to measure how much flakka a person is ingesting. Inhaling the drug in liquid form allows it to enter the bloodstream too quickly and can easily overwhelm the body and brain.
The cumulative side effects of flakka abuse and intoxication can sometimes warrant medically supervised detox to ensure a safe recovery. In this case, it is essential that you contact a reputable treatment center like Windward Way Recovery to assist you in the process. Flakka has a very similar chemical composition to bath salts, and the two have the same effects on users. The active ingredient in bath salts is methylenedioxypyrovalerone, or MDPV, which differs slightly from what flakka contains. The potential for addiction and abuse is very high with both substances, but flakka tends to be more potent. Flakka falls under the category of synthetic cathinones, man-made stimulants inspired by the naturally occurring substance found in the Khat plant from East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
Is there treatment for flakka addiction?
Flakka is considered a Schedule I drug (high potential for abuse with no medical use). Bath salts are usually found in white or brown crystals or powder sold in small packages. Many illegal manufacturers sell the drug under names that sound like household products, like plant care materials or household cleaning solutions.
One single dose can also lead a user into severe paranoia, aggression, and hyper-stimulation. The high from Flakka can last up to several hours, much longer than that of cocaine. Cathinone has stimulant effects similar to Amphetamines, Ephedrine, Methcathinone, and Cathine. Alpha – Pyrrolidinopentiophenone (alpha-PVP) is the active chemical ingredient in Flakka. It causes excessive synaptic activation and a condition known as agitated delirium. In this state, an altered mental status will result in anxiety, bizarre behavior, confusion, agitation, violent outbursts, and seizures.
Flakka is sometimes called “five-dollar insanity” because it is so inexpensive. In Florida, the epicenter of flakka abuse, the drug was reportedly sold in convenience stores and gas stations for $4 or $5 until recently. Psychiatric Times notes that people who abuse flakka tend to be young adults who are economically disadvantaged.