One of the newer chemicals in the booming category of synthetic or designer drugs, Flakka is typically made from a synthetic version of an amphetamine-like stimulant in the cathinone class called alpha-PVP. Like bath salts, flakka simulates the effects of cocaine and methamphetamine without the price tag. That’s why the designer drug has become so popular among college-age adults – since it’s 10 times more powerful than coke. “The high is pretty high and getting off takes longer,” Cidambi said. 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.

Cognitive effects

The FSU fraternity brother grunted like an animal as police tried to subdue him during the Monday night attack, officials said. It comes in different forms and can be eaten, injected, smoked or snorted. Flakka only arrived on the drug market in the mid-2000s and has since become a significant threat to public health in many areas of Florida, and Broward County in particular. About 22 percent of the drug seizures that tested positive for alpha-PVP came from South Florida, according to the data. “Police are generally called, but it might take four or five or six officers to restrain the individual,” Hall said.

Withdrawal Treatment/Treatment for Flakka Addiction

• 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.
• In other words, Flakka is a type of bath salt, but not all bath salts are Flakka.
• However, as psycho stimulant, this drug can cause paranoia, hyper stimulation and hallucinations.
• After that, it was given a schedule I status, which denotes that it can be prone to abuse and has no medical value.
• The initial effects of taking Flakka are similar to those of bath salts and methamphetamines.
• If you or someone you know is suffering from Flakka dependence or addiction, then contact a treatment provider today to discuss what options are available.

According to a survey from February 2019, 1% of the teens in America have used flakka knowingly, and more have used it unknowingly. On the other hand, flakka costs $5, whereas one gram of cocaine can approximately cost up to $80, and most Individuals like the homeless, some college students cannot afford cocaine. They, therefore, opt for flakka, which stimulates a relatively long and intense high. It is also reported that flakka is ten times more powerful than cocaine. The high feeling that one gets after using flakka can last up to three hours.

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What is flakka (aka gravel) and why is it more dangerous than cocaine?

This method of ingestion can make it particularly easy to overdose on flakka. Flakka has gained fame due to its ability to cause erratic and dangerous behavior in users. As soon as it wears off, one may need to take more of the drug, thereby causing adverse effects. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, flakka triggers ‘excited delirium,’ characterized by hallucinations, extreme paranoia, and increased physical strength. Flakka is a synthetic cathinone with effects and a chemical makeup similar to bath salts and CNS stimulants.

Flakka (Alpha-PVP) Overview, Effects, Abuse, Addiction, & Treatment

This compound has been available online as recreational designer drug. People who use Flakka can display cases of bizarre and uncontrollable behavior. Recently, the abuse of synthetic drugs has re-emerged as a significant worldwide issue. Although a typical flakka high can last one to several hours, it is possible that the neurological effects can be permanent. Not only does the drug sit on neurons, it could also destroy them, Hall said. And because flakka, like bath salts, hang around in the brain for longer than cocaine, the extent of the destruction could be greater.

• When used in excessive amounts, they can lead to severe negative effects, including high blood pressure, elevated heart rate, paranoia, aggression, panic attacks, and psychosis.
• 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.
• Synthetic drugs are illicitly created to produce substances that differ slightly from legal drugs.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• It is unclear why the Sunshine State is a hotbed for flakka abuse; “it’s a major question in our community,” Hall said.

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. 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. Like cocaine and methamphetamine, Flakka stimulates the release of feel-good brain chemicals such as dopamine and norepinephrine, Hall said.