They are both psychostimulants, mind-altering substances that have both hallucinogenic and stimulant effects. Flakka is under the umbrella term of “bath salts,” and it and other synthetic cathinones typically have mephedrone, methylone or MDPV in the mixture. While many synthetic drugs, including cathinones, are designed to be inexpensive to appeal to a wide market, flakka is cheaper than many designer drugs. This makes it a target of abuse for people who struggle with all kinds of substance abuse problems, including methamphetamine addiction or polydrug abuse. The drug is particularly appealing for those who feel a compulsion to consume intoxicating substances but do not have a lot of money. The drug is very potent, so people who have become tolerant to other drugs may take flakka to get a new level of euphoria.
What are the side effects of Flakka?
Misusing these substances through smoking, snorting, injecting, or oral consumption can have fatal consequences, including overdose and death. It induces central nervous system stimulation and causes altered mental status in individuals after usage. Even low doses of Flakka can induce alteration in consciousness and an excited state.
Everything you need to know about the new street drug ‘flakka’
These instances highlight the profound and often alarming effects that flakka can have on behavior and mental state, emphasizing its dangers to both users and the community at large. At the height of the flakka craze, emergency rooms in Florida reported seeing as many as 30 cases per day of flakka overdose. When the drug first hit stores in Broward County, Florida, there were 60 deaths directly caused by flakka between September 2014 and December 2015. The epidemic in Broward County still accounts for about 20 percent of flakka abuse and overdose cases nationally.
Agitated patients can go into a state called “excited delirium,” which is a medical emergency. In the excited delirium state, restrained patients struggle to free themselves, scream, flail, and can even have seizures. The combination of a high body temperature and extreme muscle overactivity can cause other metabolic problems to happen in the body. Muscle tissue begins to break down, releasing proteins and other cellular products into the bloodstream, in a process called rhabdomyolysis. The result of the cellular products and proteins released during rhabdomyolysis and dehydration can impair the filtering function of the kidneys, leading to renal failure and death. In addition, such agitation may trigger Taser use or other methods that have the potential to harm the individual when law enforcement personnel have to intervene.
- Flakka is a highly potent drug that can be snorted, injected, eaten, smoked, or vaporized in e-cigarettes.
- Substituted cathinones are derivatives of the naturally occurring substance cathinone, which is one of the psychoactive principles in khat (Catha edullis).
- The euphoria effected by this drug is quite intense and getting off takes longer than cocaine or meth.
According to Forbes contributor Robert Glatter, the US Drug Enforcement Administration has seen a nearly 780% increase in the number of reported cases in the last three years. Always conduct independent research (e.g. Google, DuckDuckGo, PubMed) to ensure that a combination of two or more substances is safe to consume. It is strongly recommended that one use harm reduction practices when using this substance. Whether you’re an educator, a concerned parent, or a community member looking to protect vulnerable neighbors, knowledge is the key to fostering safer environments and supporting those most at risk. Below, we’ll explain flakka, why it can be so dangerous, and how communities can respond with both precaution and compassion.
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However, dopamine depletion or receptor damage can lead to crashes, depression, or psychosis over time. 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. Hall said that there are about three or four hospitalizations a day in Broward County in South Florida, and more on weekends. It is unclear why the Sunshine State is a hotbed for flakka abuse; “it’s a major question in our community,” Hall said.
Flakka has emerged as a low-cost option for those chasing a high, easily accessible despite its classification by the US Drug Enforcement Administration as a hazardous substance. Users who consume Flakka, whether through ingestion, snorting, vaporizing, or injection, may face severe psychological effects, including paranoia and hallucinations. The allure of Flakka, despite its well-documented dangers, often comes down to its cost-effectiveness. Cocaine, for instance, might set someone back $80 per gram, a price out of reach for many, including college students, individuals experiencing homelessness, and those with limited income. In stark contrast, Flakka is priced between $3 to $5 per dose, making it an affordable, albeit risky, alternative. The drug not only comes cheaper but offers a longer-lasting high, extending up to five hours, compared to the fleeting effects of Cocaine.
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Flakka is the street name for the chemical alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone, called alpha-PVP for short. Even though flakka use has so many negative consequences, many people continue to put themselves at risk of using the drug and experience many adverse consequences, including addiction. The drug is very affordable, especially compared to amphetamines, heroin, cocaine, and ecstasy, so it is appealing to populations that can’t afford expensive drugs. And the high is long and intense, typically lasting up to five hours compared to cocaine, which lasts only 30 minutes. Flakka’s initial effects after consumption include feelings of euphoria, hyper-focus, stimulation, increased sex drive, loss of inhibitions, elevated mood, diminished appetite and sociability.
What Happens in a Drug Detox Program?
Combinations with the following substances can cause dangerously high serotonin levels. Serotonin syndrome requires immediate medical attention and can be fatal if left untreated. The toxicity and long-term health effects of recreational α-PVP use do not appear to have been studied in any scientific context and the exact toxic dosage is unknown. When α-PVP is cooked with other chemicals, such as acetone and amorphous, and allowed to dry it will cause the mixture to crystallize.
Manufacturers frequently mix α-PVP with cheap fillers such as caffeine or sugar to alter appearance and maximize profit. These additives rarely affect the psychoactive strength of the drug what is flakka drug wikipedia but can further complicate health risks. “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. There is not enough research on flakka to understand how long withdrawal lasts, but it cannot be an easy thing to endure.
If your Flakka use is out of control or you suspect a loved one is struggling with Flakka abuse, get help today from Delamere. Our peaceful wellness retreat by the forest is the perfect place to begin Flakka withdrawal in safe surroundings. If you or a loved one are abusing Flakka and bath salts and want to stop, you don’t have to struggle alone; help is available.
Flakka, though not as widespread as often portrayed in sensationalized media reports, poses real dangers to users and communities. By staying informed and advocating for empathetic responses, we can help reduce the harm caused by flakka. Although the Drug Enforcement Administration has placed a temporary ban on flakka, drug makers can work around this ban, such as by sticking a “not for human consumption” label on the drug, Watterson said.
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Likewise, adverse effects become increasingly likely with higher doses and may include addiction, severe injury, or death ☠. Α-PVP, or alpha-Pyrrolidinovalerophenone, is a synthetic substance belonging to a group called the substituted cathinones. Substituted cathinones are derivatives of the naturally occurring substance cathinone, which is one of the psychoactive principles in khat (Catha edullis). Cathinone is composed of a phenethylamine core with an alkyl group attached to the alpha carbon, and a ketone group attached to the beta carbon.
People with co-occurring disorders are at high risk for experiencing psychotic breaks and long-lasting mental health effects from Flakka abuse. Using flakka can elicit highly unusual episodes of profound mental illness. It is a euphoric stimulant and has a short-acting duration of physical and psychological effects similar to other stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines. Flakka is cheap and highly addictive, two factors that predominantly led to its recent surge. According to one study, users need ten times less the amount of Flakka as they do cocaine in order to get addicted to the drug. Flakka blocks a user’s dopamine and norepinephrine transporter proteins from functioning properly in the brain.
Flakka Versus Bath Salts
Researchers from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) state the effects of Flakka are unique to any other drug they’ve studied. The most obvious and disturbing effect is the trance-like state it causes, earning it the nickname zombie drug. Because of its constantly changing chemical composition, every batch of Flakka will vary in appearance, potency, desired effects, and side effects. In such instances, it’s imperative to seek medical help right away, as these symptoms indicate a critical situation that could escalate rapidly. Flakka’s potency and the unpredictability of its effects add to its danger.