Flakka Drug: Symptoms, Side Effects & Complications

Cathinone is composed of a phenethylamine core with an alkyl group attached to the alpha carbon, and a ketone group attached to the beta carbon. Α-PVP’s structure consists of a cathinone core with a propyl group substituted at the alpha carbon, and a pyrrolidine ring at the amino group. Located in Los Angeles, California, The Detox Center of Los Angeles is a fully licensed top-rated drug and alcohol detox, rehab, and PHP, which is also fully accredited by several reputable associations. We offer programs such as outpatient, detox, and residential treatment programs. Our clients work hand in hand with our trained professional therapists to maintain emotional and physical strength during recovery. Despite the detrimental effects due to the use of flakka, the big question arises on why one would dare use this highly risky drug.

The cathinones also inhibit the reuptake of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and serotonin in the central nervous system. This inhibition causes an increase in the hormones that elevate mood. This is because the “comedown” after drug ingestion causes feelings of depression and being down. Hall said that there are about three or four hospitalizations a day in Broward County in South Florida, and more on weekends. It is unclear why the Sunshine State is a hotbed for flakka abuse; “it’s a major question in our community,” Hall said.

As an individual who is addicted to flakka use, seeking professional help for detox or withdrawal is advisable to avoid unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Flakka may also lead to hyperthermia, whereby the temperature of one’s body rises to 105 degrees. Some of the other side effects include; hypertension, aneurysm, renal failure, and narrowed blood vessels. Regardless of the method of intake, it can overdose as any other drug. Once a person who has misused Flakka is in a state where they are not a danger to themselves and others, a full diagnosis and course of treatment can be prescribed by a clinician or doctor. In contrast, Flakka is primarily composed of alpha-Pyrrolidinopentiophenone (alpha-PVP).

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• We are dedicated to transforming the despair of addiction into a purposeful life of confidence, self-respect and happiness.
• According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), Flakka drug use is surging in Florida.
• The legal status of flakka remains a moving target as authorities try to keep pace with the evolving synthetic drug market.
• These urine drug tests are called a bath salt drug test kit or Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) urine drug test.
• The year 2015 saw hundreds of deaths related to the drug Flakka—most often resulting from overdose, heart attack, and suicide.

Sometimes the effects of flakka can linger for weeks after it has been ingested. Although the Drug Enforcement Administration has placed a temporary ban on flakka, drug makers can work around this ban, such as by sticking a “not for human consumption” label on the drug, Watterson said. It will probably take several years to get the data necessary to put a federal flakka drug wikipedia ban on flakka, he added. And a ban can be effective, at least in discouraging potential users. Despite the DEA’s efforts to ban flakka, the drug is still being manufactured and sold illegally, often through online vendors.

Effects of Flakka abuse

• You may have seen the headlines or heard national warnings to protect your children from this new substance.
• Most reports of flakka after 2016 turned out to be other similar chemicals in the bath salt family.
• Regardless of the method of intake, it can overdose as any other drug.
• Some, plain and simply, refer to the drug as “five-dollar insanity.” For most, the drug is Flakka.
• It is often mixed with ecstasy, a party drug not to access the drug components.
• Ark Behavioral Health offers 100% confidential substance abuse assessment and treatment placement tailored to your individual needs.

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. Although people use flakka to achieve a euphoric high, the drug’s symptoms and side effects can escalate quickly. Individuals with flakka overdose were isolated to a few geographic regions of the country.

Symptoms of Flakka Abuse & Addiction

Since being cut off from loved ones may be of particular concern for an individual, incorporating the participation of family members —e.g. The following video brings attention to the serious dangers of Flakka use, even for first-time users.

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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. It was reported that the drug in combination with pentedrone, caused heart failure that led to death. Flakka, which is also called gravel in some parts of the country, is the street name for a chemical called alpha-PVP, or alpha-pyrrolidinovalerophenone.

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This difference in chemical structure contributes to variations in their effects and potential for addiction. Alpha-PVP is known for producing intense stimulation and can lead to extreme behavioral changes, including agitation and violent outbursts. Flakka also has a high potential for overdose, especially when vaporized as the exact amount being taken is hard to quantify. The onset of a Flakka overdose is often rapid and can cause heart problems, aggressive behavior, and psychosis. Flakka is one of the more recent synthetic drugs and research into its effects isn’t extensive. However, research that has been conducted has shown that the drug can be toxic to the kidneys and cause renal failure.

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Users have reported that the drug use of flakka can trigger intense and uncontrollable urges to ingest the drug again. Flakka was added to the Schedule I list in 2014 by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). This was part of an effort to curb the abuse of synthetic drugs, which were becoming increasingly popular and causing significant health issues. 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).

Flakka, sometimes known as gravel, is closely related to bath salts, a synthetic cathinone that police linked to the infamous face-eating attack in Miami four years ago. The man-made drug that’s manufactured primarily in China entered the states only a few years ago, but didn’t soar in popularity until 2013. Synthetic drugs known as bath salts are from the synthetic cathinone class of drugs, like flakka.