What you need to know about flakka, the latest drug causing erratic behaviour National

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. The drug takes on the form of a pink or white, nasty-smelling crystal that can be snorted, eaten, injected or even vaporized in an e-cigarette. When vaporized, overdosing on the drug may happen as the drug quickly enters into the bloodstream. Flakka is dose-specific that even a minute amount will give the user his desired effect. 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).

When addiction has developed, cravings and withdrawal effects may occur if a person suddenly stops their usage. Despite its street-level reputation as a “zombie drug,” it’s primarily a chemical cousin of other stimulants like amphetamines and “bath salts,” with a high risk of severe side effects. 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.

Visual effects

Treating the mental health concern can often provide significant relief and build a sound foundation for lasting sobriety. 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. 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.

Tolerance, Dependence and Withdrawal

Following a growing number of stories around abusers’ crazy antics, Flakka has been dubbed the ‘insanity drug’ and ‘Zombie drug’. 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. There is not much research uet on the effects of combining overdose and flakka, but it is always dangerous to mix drugs and there have been reports of the mixtures leading to overdose and death. Flakka used alone has caused many fatalities as well, including suicide and myocardial infarction. If someone you care about is using flakka, it’s essential to seek help immediately.

High doses deliver a similar high to cocaine or methamphetamine, which can cause paranoid delusions and involuntary muscle jerks. In small doses, Flakka can give users an immediate sense of euphoria, boost confidence, lessen inhibitions and increase libido. When the brain gets used to these pleasant sensations, it is hardwired to want more, leading to a higher tolerance, greater dependence and a potentially deadly addiction.

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• In the case of flakka, the new chemical is called alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone or alpha-PVP.
• Flakka can also disrupt other neurotransmitter systems, including serotonin and norepinephrine.
• It is abused mostly for its euphoric effect, alertness, excitement, improved productivity, strength and endurance.
• The potential for addiction and abuse is very high with both substances, but flakka tends to be more potent.
• The combination of a high body temperature and extreme muscle overactivity can cause other metabolic problems to happen in the body.

According to Hall’s research, alpha-PVP is often purchased online in bulk from locations such as China, typically at $1,500 per kilogram. Doses typically sell on the street for $4 or $5, and because each dose is so tiny, that means dealers can net about $50,000 from their initial investment, as long as they have the networks to distribute the drug. At low doses, Flakka is a stimulant with mild hallucinatory effects. Because of this affordability, the drug is appealing to economically vulnerable groups, contributing to pockets of higher usage despite overall modest national prevalence.

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. Individuals with flakka overdose were isolated to a few geographic regions of the country. The epicenter of the flakka epidemic was Broward County, Florida, which includes the city of Fort Lauderdale. Internationally, the legal status of flakka varies by country, but many countries have taken steps to control its use due to its dangerous effects. We look at all aspects of your life to help you work through your pain points and heal holistically. Once we have instilled a set of coping mechanisms you will return home free from Flakka addiction, but still with the reassurance of 24/7 support from your personal therapist and group mentors.

It’s dubbed the street version of bath salts, concocted in labs overseas and shipped into North America. The latest synthetic drug garnering attention is called flakka and it induces paranoia, psychosis and extreme aggression. Flakka is the most recent synthetic compound that has alarmed the public health sector. This new designer drug called alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone (alpha-PVP) is a tweaked version of bath salts. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), Flakka drug use is surging in Florida. 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.

Families should create a safe space for open dialogue about drugs like Flakka. Establishing trust can inspire honesty and may even help identify potential risks early on. Those under the influence of flakka might experience intense feelings of paranoia and anxiety. This can cause them to act suspiciously or even hallucinate – they might think they’re being followed or are in danger when that’s not really the case. 😨 It’s vital to be aware of these signs so you can potentially help someone in need.

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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. This struggle causes a high core body temperature called hyperthermia. 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.

Known to cause psychosis, agitation and paranoia, Flakka shuts off the part of the brain responsible for rational control and can lead to people believing they have superhuman strength. It is a Schedule 1 drug in the US, which are drugs that are classed as the most dangerous and with the highest risk for abuse and dependence. 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.

Flakka Versus Bath Salts

It is strongly recommended that one use harm reduction practices when using this substance. 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. The FSU fraternity brother grunted like an animal as police tried to subdue him during the Monday night attack, officials said. Because flakka’s potency can spark life-threatening complications (high fever, heart issues), using this drug can lead to emergency room overcrowding. By preventing cells from reabsorbing dopamine and norepinephrine, flakka prolongs the “rush” effect. There is not enough research on flakka to understand how long withdrawal lasts, but it cannot be an easy thing to endure.

“Vaporizing, which sends the drug very quickly into the bloodstream, may make it particularly easy to overdose,” it warns. Here’s what you need to know about the latest controversial designer drug. Combinations with the following substances can cause dangerously high serotonin levels. Serotonin syndrome requires immediate medical attention and can be fatal if left untreated.

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 reduces the reuptake of dopamine which produces a state of euphoria and elation, as well as increased alertness and often aggressive behaviour. Flakka is thought to be mostly manufactured in countries like China and Pakistan, but it’s also possible that local laboratories in Florida and other states were producing it. It is not regulated, so there aren’t any restrictions on what ingredients are used to make it and no reputable source to inspect it, which makes it exceedingly dangerous.

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Flakka is a very powerful psychoactive stimulant that is similar to MDPV and pyrovalerone. It is abused mostly for its euphoric effect, alertness, excitement, improved productivity, strength and endurance. This compound has been available online as recreational designer drug. The United States Code (USC) Controlled Substance Act is the system followed and implemented by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Bath salts have many of the same effects as flakka, including increased sex drive, euphoria, hallucinations, anxiety, panic attacks, paranoia and increased sociability. Smoking, vaping, snorting, injecting or swallowing bath salts can cause immediate overdose and death. 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. These effects can be pleasing at first, leading the user to believe the drug might be harmless. However, when the high wears off, users will need to take more and more of the drug to achieve the same effects; this can lead to negative side effects. Flakka is extremely dangerous and has caused users to commit suicide and violent acts toward others.

Our state-of-the-art residential inpatient setting enables individuals to deal with post-withdrawal healing safely. We offer various what is flakka drug wikipedia therapeutic services such as cognitive-behavioral, solution-focused, psychodynamic, trauma-informed, spirituality, Jungian, family, breathwork, and dialectical-behavioral therapy. Our medical practitioners will come up with the best-individualized treatment plan for you at our facility. Alpha-PVP was available in tablet form in 2013, and by the end of the following year, it was gaining popularity under the street name flakka.