Due to its potent psychostimulant effects and unknown toxicity profile, it is highly advised to use harm reduction practices if using with this substance. It began with the khat plant that grows in East Africa and Southern Arabia. From there it became a new synthetic drug made from α-PVP, which is a cousin of amphetamine, which is much stronger than the khat plant.
Flakka may be marketed as a cheap alternative to other stimulants like cocaine or amphetamines. In practice, however, what is flakka drug wikipedia this popular party drug, known for producing intense feelings of pleasure, may be laced with other drugs, such as flakka. Flakka, sometimes called alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone (α-PVP), is a synthetic cathinone known for its stimulant properties and unpredictable potency. Another serious, potentially lingering side effect of flakka is the effect on kidneys. The drug can cause muscles to break down, as a result of hyperthermia, taking a toll on kidneys.
These symptoms, as outlined by the Drug Enforcement Administration, highlight the significant effect Flakka can have on a person’s demeanor and overall health. If you or someone close shows these signs of Flakka influence, call Iris Wellness Group to being your Flakka addictiont treatment in Chattanooga, TN today. Observing specific behavioral and physical changes can help identify someone struggling with Flakka. The impact of this substance on individuals is profound, leading to noticeable signs of distress and altered behavior.
Dangerous interactions
Though they are chemically similar and belong to a class of designer drugs called synthetic cathinones, they are not the same thing. They are close enough to each other in appearance and effects that dealers and users don’t always bother to differentiate. These synthetic cathinones are often sold looking similar to cocaine, in crystal form, and colloquially known as “gravel” among users seeking a euphoric experience. Available in either white or pink, alpha-PVP can lead to fatal outcomes if consumed in excessive quantities.
Forms and Routes of Administration
Therefore, Flakka addiction is highly dangerous and must be managed with professional treatment to avoid adverse health effects. A standard urine drug test kit does not detect synthetic cathinones found in alpha- pyrrolidinopentiophenone and in other bath salts. However, there are now quantitative testing for primary chemicals such as A-PVP, MDPV, DMAA, Methylone, Mephedrone and Pentedrone. These urine drug tests are called a bath salt drug test kit or Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) urine drug test.
Visual effects
- To educate your teen, to spread awareness about this drug, however, you must first understand what it is and how it works.
- Smoking, vaping, snorting, injecting or swallowing bath salts can cause immediate overdose and death.
- Flakka is considered a Schedule I drug (high potential for abuse with no medical use).
- The SDPA classifies ingredients used to make synthetic cathinones and the final products as Schedule I controlled substances, meaning they have no medical use and high addiction and abuse potential.
Sadly, the range of dangerous products on the street only continues to increase. One particularly concerning stimulant in the news over the past decade is flakka. Excessive use has been linked with feelings of extreme anxiety, paranoia, and hallucinations.
How can Delamere help with Flakka addiction?
At high doses, flakka may also cause the body to reach high temperatures (bath salts have been linked with the same symptom). This excessive temperature can lead to severe physical complications like kidney damage and muscle breakdown. Alpha-Pyrrolidinovalerophenone (also known as α-PVP, A-PVP, alpha-PVP, and flakka) is a novel stimulant substance of the cathinone and pyrrolidinophenone classes. Α-PVP is chemically related to prolintane and belongs to a group called the substituted cathinones, which includes compounds like MDPV, hexen, and a-PHP. Flakka is the most recent synthetic compound that has alarmed the public health sector.
If someone you care about is using flakka, it’s essential to seek help immediately. While the prevalence of this drug dropped sharply after heavy media attention several years ago, it’s still important to keep an eye out for it. Moreover, illegal drug makers often make minor product adjustments to avoid detection and legislation after authorities crack down on a substance. For this reason, it’s essential to remain vigilant toward flakka, bath salts, and newer designer street drugs like “mojo” with similar compositions, effects, and risks. As with other stimulants, the chronic use of α-PVP can be considered highly addictive with a high potential for abuse and is capable of causing psychological dependence among certain users.
If you or someone close is battling with addiction to flakka, reaching out for help is a vital step towards recovery. Detox – In this process, the dangerous metabolites present in the body are cleared out to avoid further health issues. During detox, the individual will develop symptoms like mood swings, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, seizures and depression, and arrhythmia. If you or a loved one are struggling with mental health or substance abuse, we can help.
How Do You Identify and Address Phenibut Addiction?
Most states, like Kentucky and Maryland, have sent warnings to medical professionals and law enforcement about flakka’s dangers. It can also quickly cause an overdose because the potency is not controlled when it is created. The drugs are typically labeled “not for human consumption,” although they are shipped into the US market specifically for the purpose of getting the user high. If you are struggling with Flakka addiction, it is important to get help from a medical professional who can facilitate a full drug rehab programme. Flakka works in a similar way to other amphetamine-like synthetic substances in that it increases the level of dopamine in the brain – the neurotransmitter responsible for controlling pleasure and reward.
Flakka will cause extreme effects characterized by violent behavior, extreme euphoria (intense excitement), extreme agitation, and distress. Delusions have been linked to suicide and homicide among people experiencing the effects of flakka. The drug has also caused heart attacks due to its intense stimulant properties.
People can also end up having seizures, losing oxygen to the brain, having swelling of the brain or having a stroke. The American Association of Poison Control Centers reported ER visits and calls from people using synthetic cathinones were on the rise between 2009 and 2012, but the use has dropped since then. Government officials on a local and national level have helped to monitor and regulate the illegal sales of the drug, also helping to cause a decline in use. However, the drug still presents a significant risk to those taking it and those present with someone under the influence. Flakka is often found mixed into other drugs, such as cocaine, ecstasy, heroin and other opiates. Because of this, many people have unknowingly tried flakka, which is why it is important to avoid the dangers of street drugs altogether.
Like with bath salts, people have also reported dozens of episodes of violent behavior in people on flakka. Effective treatment typically includes a combination of medical detoxification, behavioral therapies, and ongoing support to manage cravings and prevent relapse. Law enforcement and community activists were instrumental in limiting the damage done by the drug’s dangerous effects. Most reports of flakka after 2016 turned out to be other similar chemicals in the bath salt family. Various instances of “Man on Flakka” have been captured in videos on news channels and social media platforms such as YouTube.
Also like cocaine and meth, the drug may alter brain chemistry in a way that makes users require a larger and larger dose to get the same high. Flakka or A-PVP is a synthetic cathinone, a category under which the natural, mild, stimulant khat belong. Chemical-wise, this chemical is a more powerful, next generation bath salts. Flakka has the tendency to increase a user’s body temperature to 104 degrees Celsius or higher. Spiked temperature can lead to kidney damage or failure which could ultimately lead to death.