Flakka Drug: What It Is, Effects, and Nicknames

Regular flakka use may lead to permanent neurologic effects as it can destroy neurons. Flakka is chemically similar to the street drug bath salts, which also tends to appear like gravel. The pharmaceutical name for the designer drug is a-Pyrrolidinopentiophenone – otherwise known as a-PVP or alpha-PVP – a chemical compound originally synthesized in the 1960s. Like bath salts, the substance is packaged in plastic bags or vials and labeled “not for human consumption” or “plant food.” You can buy it online or off the street.

Α-PVP produces cross-tolerance with all dopaminergic stimulants, meaning that after the consumption of α-PVP all stimulants will have a reduced effect. 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. When addiction has developed, cravings and withdrawal effects may occur if a person suddenly stops their usage.

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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. The year 2015 saw hundreds of deaths related to the drug Flakka—most often resulting from overdose, heart attack, and suicide. Emergency visits linking back to Flakka abuse increased tenfold in the last year. Because Flakka is a synthetic, lab-made drug, its effects are unpredictable. On one side of the spectrum, use of the drug can lead to euphoria, dancing, and spastic movements.

What Is a Drug Called Flakka?

The designer drug flakka comes in crystal form, and it is typically pink or white. The synthetic drug may be eaten, injected, snorted, or vaporized in e-cigarettes. This method of ingestion can make it particularly easy to overdose on flakka. But like “bath salts,” a group of related synthetic drugs that were banned in 2012, flakka has the potential to be much more dangerous than cocaine. Flakka has gained fame due to its ability to cause erratic and dangerous behavior in users.

• Flakka was banned by the Drug Enforcement Administration in early 2014.
• You may have seen the headlines or heard national warnings to protect your children from this new substance.
• Flakka is a synthetic cathinone drug chemically similar to bath salts, whose effects mirror that of the stimulant cocaine.
• Many young adults can’t afford to drop that kind of cash, said Cidambi.
• This was part of an effort to curb the abuse of synthetic drugs, which were becoming increasingly popular and causing significant health issues.

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. The chemical is linked to cathinone, the drug found in bath salts.

It is sold as pink or white crystals (“Gravel”) and may be swallowed, snorted, injected, or vaporized in e-cigarettes. A new drug that gives people superhuman strength, but leads to violent delusions, is gaining attention. Synthetic cathinones are also labeled as ‘not for human consumption.’ These labels help hide the real reason for the product’s existence, so the drugs distribute easily. However, several traditional drug treatment approaches can help someone addicted to flakka become sober. BetterHelp can connect you to an addiction and mental health counselor.

What are the Mental Effects of Flakka?

They are made to imitate other illegal drugs like LSD, ecstasy, and cocaine. Some people deal with heart problems, muscle breakdown or even kidney failure. The NIH says its been linked to deaths by suicide and heart attack. Alpha-Pyrrolidinopentiophenone is a synthetic cathinone that acts as a stimulant similar to amphetamine, the active ingredient in certain ADHD medications.

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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 flakka drug wikipedia and belongs to a group called the substituted cathinones, which includes compounds like MDPV, hexen, and a-PHP. Popularly known as Flakka, formally known as alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone (alpha-PVP), the chemical cousin of bath salts has made its way into the hands of drug users nationwide.

China

When someone goes through a flakka detox, they will usually experience withdrawal symptoms such as those listed above. When someone is addicted to flakka, they can experience withdrawal symptoms without it. Like other stimulants of this type, flakka can cause excited delirium, otherwise known as agitated delirium. This condition occurs when there’s an excessive influx of sympathetic activation.

• To educate your teen, to spread awareness about this drug, however, you must first understand what it is and how it works.
• Flakka is fast developing a reputation for what seem to be its nasty side effects, including a tendency to give people enormous rage and strength, along with intense hallucinations.
• Just last week, an Orlando man on the drug attacked a police officer, insisted he was God and got Tasered twice by officials, according to one report.
• Like most synthetic drugs, the bulk of flakka seems to come from China and is either sold over the Internet or through gas stations or other dealers.
• This classification means that it is illegal to manufacture, distribute, or possess flakka.
• Flakka is known to spike your body temperature up to 104 degrees, if not higher.
• If you or someone you know needs assistance, consider reaching out to a professional or a helpline.

Center for the Study and Prevention of Substance Abuse at Nova Southeastern University, told NBC News. “Vaporizing, which sends the drug very quickly into the bloodstream, may make it particularly easy to overdose,” it warns. Flakka has been considered a controlled substance by the Drug Enforcement Administration since 2014. In other words, Flakka is a type of bath salt, but not all bath salts are Flakka. Some bath salts may be more potent than Flakka, others less, and there is really no way of telling beforehand.

Researchers have not thoroughly clinically studied the long-term effects of flakka, but renal failure can occur that is irreversible. Flakka is a dangerous drug that has many bad side effects, mostly including changes in behavior or mood. 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 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.