According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), Flakka drug use is surging in Florida… As alpha-PVP is a stimulant, a state of hyper-stimulation, hallucinations and paranoia that could result in self-injury and violent aggression are possible. This drug has the combined effects of methamphetamine and cocaine without the price tag.
Flakka Versus Bath Salts
- Flakka was added to the Schedule I list in 2014 by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
- Synthetic cathinones are a class of lab-made stimulants that are designed to mimic the chemical properties of khat.
- The epicenter of the flakka epidemic was Broward County, Florida, which includes the city of Fort Lauderdale.
- However, since Flakka mimics methamphetamine and cocaine, its long term effects may rival the two mentioned illicit drugs.
- Muscle tissue begins to break down, releasing proteins and other cellular products into the bloodstream, in a process called rhabdomyolysis.
Specifically it is alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone, which is a mouthful in any language. The first step in treating Flakka addiction is often drug detox treatment. This process involves the supervised withdrawal from the drug in a safe and controlled environment. Medical professionals can provide medications and monitoring to manage withdrawal symptoms, which can be severe and include anxiety, depression, paranoia, and intense cravings. Flakka addiction rarely occurs in isolation since it is often part of poly-substance abuse.
Flakka Addiction Treatment
Schedule I drugs are defined as substances with a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in treatment, and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision. This classification means that it is illegal to manufacture, distribute, or possess flakka. There is a lack of scientific research on the long term effects of Flakka. However, as psycho stimulant, this drug can cause paranoia, hyper stimulation and hallucinations. There are news stories indicating the irrational behavior of people high on Flakka. In combinations with other drugs, A-PVP has been linked to overdoses and suicides.
Popular Health Centers
However, since Flakka mimics methamphetamine and cocaine, its long term effects may rival the two mentioned illicit drugs. The United States Code (USC) Controlled Substance Act is the system followed and implemented by the Drug Enforcement Administration. There are five schedules of controlled substances labeled from 1-V, with the classification based on the pertaining drug’s medical applications, safety, and abuse potential. If you or a loved one are struggling with Flakka addiction or any other substance use disorder, contact us at Avenues Recovery, where we will walk you through the different treatment options available.
This can lead to extremes in behavior that are straight out of a horror movie. In one of the most well-publicized instances, a man gnawed the face off of a live victim. Our what does flakka smell like website is scanned on a regular basis for security holes and known vulnerabilities in order to make your visit to our site as safe as possible. We never ask for personal or private information like names, email addresses, or credit card numbers.
The repeated use of flakka use can produce cravings and result in compulsive drug-seeking behavior in users despite the incurrence of health, social, financial, and legal consequences. The term “Flakka drug zombie” gained attention and popularity in the media due to sensationalized reports and anecdotes depicting individuals under the influence of Flakka exhibiting bizarre and zombie-like behaviors. Like other abused stimulants, the flakka “high” comes with the flakka “low,” when the drug is eliminated and the user feels drained and depressed. This starts them on the path to addiction with all of its consequences. Brain chemistry alterations encourage users to take larger and larger doses to get the same high. The practice of jump-starting a cycle of Flakka used to counter negative come downs will eventually lead to tolerance to the drug.
Statistics on Flakka drug:
It is common to hear reports that it takes multiple people to restrain and sedate these patients. Rescue crews and emergency department staff need to give sedatives to these patients to calm them and make them safe. Various instances of “Man on Flakka” have been captured in videos on news channels and social media platforms such as YouTube. 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. Consider enrolling in an inpatient or residential treatment program that offers comprehensive therapy, counseling, and support services.
Short-Term Flakka Effects
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, alpha-PVP, is still legal in many parts of the world. Flakka, scientifically known as alpha-PVP, is a synthetic substance chemically related to stimulants, such as amphetamines. Flakka is very versatile for the drug-user because it can be swallowed, snorted into the nose, injected or smoked. One percent of US teenagers are using flakka — but it could be moreJust under 1% of American teenagers are knowingly using the synthetic drug flakka, according to new research…
It was reported that the drug in combination with pentedrone, caused heart failure that led to death. While Flakka and bath salts do share similar properties, they are different from one another. Calling the drug “bath salts” is an intentionally misleading attempt to draw attention away from their illegal status so that they won’t get confiscated by authorities. Even though the packaging may state, “not intended for human consumption,” cathinone bath salts are sold as drugs of abuse. Flakka drugs are man-made, typically from a manufactured version of an Amphetamine-like Stimulant in the Cathinone class called Alpha-PVP.
- Cathinone is a naturally occurring compound called phenylalkylamine, found in the leaves of khat – a shrub or small tree indigenous to East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
- This can lead to extremes in behavior that are straight out of a horror movie.
- Flakka drug addiction is a complex condition, and individual experiences may vary.
- Flakka has been considered a controlled substance by the Drug Enforcement Administration since 2014.
What is Flakka Drug Dance?
Flakka is classified as a Schedule 1 drug by the United States Drug Enforcement Agency, which indicates a drug with a high potential for abuse and no real functions as medical treatments. The chemical components were banned as far back as 2011, but it has taken until now for Flakka to become a street drug. Investigators at The Scripps Research Institute found that the potency and addictiveness of alpha-PVP are similar to those of its chemical cousin, bath salts.
DEA Drug Class
In that case, seeking professional help from healthcare providers or addiction specialists is crucial for a comprehensive evaluation and appropriate treatment options. 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.
Look for strange crystals and notable changes in behavior as the tell-tale signs of its use. As with any drug, education on its dangers may provide a disincentive for its use. While some popular drugs like MDMA (known as “molly” or “ecstasy” on the street) induce a warm, friendly feeling, Flakka is the polar opposite.
There, the khat plant is widely chewed, and its natural effects create a mild euphoria. The synthetic version produces something akin to amphetamines, which amplifies the natural effects into a psychotic rage. 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.
Flakka is the most recent synthetic compound that has alarmed the public health sector. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), Flakka drug use is surging in Florida. The use of synthetic drugs, such as synthetic cannabinoids (often referred to as “synthetic marijuana”) and synthetic cathinones (such as Flakka), has been a challenge. It was first synthesized in the 1960s as part of research conducted by pharmaceutical companies.
In some cases, individuals may appear to be dancing or engaging in repetitive, jerky movements. Flakka acts primarily as a potent reuptake inhibitor of norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin, leading to increased neurotransmitters in the brain. This stimulation of the central nervous system can result in intense euphoria, heightened alertness, hyperactivity, hallucinations, and harmful mental and physical health effects. 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.
