Injecting the drug can raise the risk of getting HIV or hepatitis when sharing needles and other drug equipment. Hall says designer drugs like flakka are not always pure, which means that frequently the customer and dealer don’t actually know what’s in the product. Hall says that in 2013 there were a total of 126 reported deaths tied to synthetic cathinone in Florida.
It is difficult to know exactly how popular Flakka use is because when surveying individuals on Flakka use, the results are likely to be inaccurate. Flakka users often underestimate their use of this drug because Flakka or other bath salts are often used unknowingly as adulterants in drugs such as ecstasy. Flakka is sometimes referred to as the “zombie drug.” Individuals high on alpha-PVP may experience an altered mental state that induces psychosis. The synthetic substance can also produce unusual physical strength. In some situations, multiple police officers may be needed to subdue someone intoxicated on flakka.
Flakka Withdrawal Symptoms
The drug also prevents neurons, or brain cells, from reabsorbing these brain chemicals, meaning the effects of the drug may linger in the system longer than people anticipate. 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. A dose can go for $3 to $5, which makes it a cheap alternative to cocaine. Dealers often target young and poor people and also try to enlist homeless people to buy and sell, Hall said.
Alpha-PVP produces a rush of dopamine in the brain, causing an intense high similar to that of cocaine and methamphetamine. But it can also cause agitated delirium and sometimes results in psychiatric hospitalization. The DEA classifies flakka as a Schedule I substance, making it illegal in the United States. Schedule I drugs have no acceptable medical purposes and a high potential for abuse.
Sign up for the Live Science daily newsletter now
From 2013 to 2015, flakka use became an epidemic in poor neighborhoods in South Florida. People high on the synthetic cathinone began acting erratically — exhibiting bizarre behaviors and becoming uncontrollably volatile. This led to a number of emergency department visits, overdoses and deaths. Flakka was also very inexpensive, costing as little as $5 for a dose.
Cognitive Signs of Flakka Addiction
- This process involves the supervised withdrawal from the drug in a safe and controlled environment.
- These symptoms highlight the profound impact Flakka can have on an individual’s life.
- They are often sold on the street as cheap substitutes for other stimulants such as methamphetamine and cocaine.
- Flakka is a powerful stimulant that affects the central nervous system and causes effects similar to those of cocaine, including intense euphoria, increased energy, and alertness.
- In 2015, police in Florida reported an outbreak of extremely bizarre behaviors by people after using flakka.
- Her work has appeared in Scientific American, Wired.com and other outlets.
The drug effect is a high or “rush” that is similar to methamphetamine (speed). They are often sold on the street as cheap substitutes for other stimulants such as methamphetamine and cocaine. (Alex Dodd/flickr) Flakka is made from a compound called alpha-PVP, a chemical cousin of cathinone, the amphetamine-like drug found in bath salts.
Everything you need to know about the new street drug ‘flakka’ — its insane side effects aren’t even the worst part
The extent to which an individual will experience dangerous Flakka symptoms depends on the frequency and method of administration, as well as a number of other factors, such as any underlying health conditions. Flakka, the colloquial name for α-pyrrolidopentadione (a-PVP), is a synthetic cathinone drug. Sometimes referred to as “gravel” for its gravel-like appearance, it is commonly referred to as the Flakka drug. When vaporized, alpha-PVP quickly enters the bloodstream, and its effects are felt more rapidly. However, this method of what does flakka smell like administration makes overdose more likely.