Flakka is one of the worst synthetic drugs out there. You might have seen videos of individuals acting strangely, like running naked through the streets, thinking they’re being chased by imaginary threats, or showing off superhuman strength. These are all signs of this terrifying drug’s effects. Flakka, or alpha-PVP, is a drug with the street nickname “zombie drug” for a good reason. This cheap, very unpredictable synthetic stimulant has caused a lot of problems in communities, filled up emergency rooms, and ruined lives. It’s important for everyone who cares about public health and safety to know what makes Flakka so dangerous.
What Is Flakka?
The Chemical Breakdown
The full chemical name for Flakka is alpha-Pyrrolidinopentiophenone, or alpha-PVP for short. You might know it better as “bath salts,” which is a type of synthetic drug. These extremely dangerous designer drugs are made in labs, not from natural sources, and are chemically similar to amphetamines and MDMA.
Difference between Flakka and Bath Salts
Flakka and bath salts are often confused for being the same, but they aren’t exactly similar. Bath salts include a group of synthetic cathinone drugs with the same effects as stimulants such as cocaine or meth. Flakka is a synthetic crystal form drug based on the chemical structure of alpha-PVP. It belongs to the class of synthetic cathinones that cause agitation, hallucniation and erratic behavior. Flakka drug effects are similar to other synthetic drugs, including violent aggression, kidney failure and central nervous system damage.
What It Looks Like and How People Use It
Flakka generally looks like white or pink crystal chunks, although it can also be ground into a fine powder. People use it different ways, such as smoking, snorting, injecting, or just swallowing it. Vaping is becoming more and more popular because it’s easier and less noticeable; however, this approach makes it much more difficult to manage the dosage.
Street Names and Why It’s So Easy to Get
On the street, Flakka is called by other names, such as “gravel” (because of its appearance), “$5 insanity” (because of its cheap cost and effects), or just “the zombie drug.” The fact that it costs so little is one of the things that makes it so harmful. When a strong medication costs less than a cup of coffee, it becomes available to those who may not otherwise try drugs.
Where did it originate from?
Flakka isn’t new; it was developed in the 1960s. But it didn’t become a street drug problem until the early 2010s. It was most popular in 2015 and 2016, especially in Florida, where emergency rooms were flooded with people who were having horrible reactions. Cases reported have gone down since then, but it hasn’t totally disappeared. It still circulates the drug market, and the risks are still quite high.
Dangerous Effects of Flakka Abuse
The Brain Chemistry Behind The High
You need to know what Flakka does to your body to understand how harmful it is for you. Flakka works by blocking the reabsorption of two important brain neurotransmitters, dopamine and norepinephrine. These chemicals are released by your brain and then reabsorbed normally. Flakka inhibits this reabsorption, making these chemicals flood your brain. What happens? An intense rush of euphoria and energy that can last about three to five hours.
Physical Damage to the Human Body
This euphoric high comes at a cost. Your heart rate increases, and your blood pressure shoots up. It causes increased body temperature to rise to dangerous levels, reaching 105 or 106 degrees Fahrenheit or even more. This extreme hyperthermia doesn’t only make you uncomfortable; it can actually cook your organs and permanently damage your brain.
Muscles Break Down
The physical damage to the body keeps getting worse. Muscle damage leads to rhabdomyolysis, which is a condition in which damaged muscles release proteins. These proteins enter your bloodstream and can destroy your kidneys. Seizures are also common in such situations. Even young, healthy individuals might have heart attacks and strokes.
Terrifying Mental Effects
The mental effects are just as terrifying, if not more. Flakka makes people extremely paranoid and agitated. Users experience vivid hallucinations seeing and hearing things that aren’t there. Many develop psychosis, where they completely lose contact with reality. They might even believe they are being chased by demons and that they have superpowers. This combination of hallucination and physical power generates what medical professionals call “excited delirium,” which is a dangerous state where users can hurt themselves or others without even realizing it.
Uncertainty Around Dosage
What makes all of this worse is the uncertainty. Because Flakka is manufactured illegally, there’s no consistency in dosing or purity. One batch might be relatively weak, while another is dangerously potent. When you’re vaping it, it’s virtually impossible to manage how much you’re actually consuming. Flakka overdose effects are different for each person, so every time you use it, you could potentially die.
Harmful Effects of Flakka Addiction
Cooking From the Inside Out
While many drugs are harmful, Flakka stands out for various reasons. The hyperthermia it causes isn’t just uncomfortable; it’s potentially fatal. When your body temperature become high, you’re practically cooking from the inside out. Your organs begin to fail. Your brain might suffer permanent damage.
The Zombie Drug Behavior
The aggressive and bizarre behavior connected with Flakka has been reported in many horrific incidents. This behavior combined with agitated delirium is extremely harmful for everyone around a flakka addict. People have tried to smash down doors, attacked random people, or hurt themselves in several violent behaviors.
Long-Term Mental Health Damage
The mental health side effects continue long after the substance leaves your system. Some individuals develop paranoia for days or even weeks after usage with an altered mental state. Some people acquire long-lasting psychosis along with panic attacks that need continuing psychiatric care.
Multiple Organ Failure Risk
Flakka attacks different organ systems at once. The muscular breakdown can cause renal failure Heart attacks and strokes can happen because of the high heart rate and blood pressure.
The Addiction Trap
Flakka is a synthetic drug that is highly addictive. Users have intense cravings right after their first usage. The brain develops tolerance, so you need more and more to have the same effect. This quickly growing addiction grabs hold of people before they even realize the severe consequences.
Mixing With Other Illegal Drugs
The scariest part is you don’t even know what you are taking. These new dangerous synthetic cathinones, including Flakka, are commonly mixed with other drugs. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid responsible for a lot of overdose deaths, can be one of those drugs. There is no quality control, so you can’t be sure what else is in the psychoactive drug you’re taking. When you use Flakka, you’re not just taking a chance on its negative consequences; you’re also taking a chance on anything else that may be mixed with it.
Recognizing the Signs and Knowing How to Respond
Warning Signs for Physical Symptoms
There are symptoms to look for if you think someone might be using Flakka. Users behave in very strange ways, such as showing extreme paranoia, having violent or angry outbursts, or doing things that don’t make sense. Look for signs of high core body temperature, such as excessive sweating, heavy breathing, high blood pressure and dilated pupils. You can find drug-related stuff like pipes, syringes, or little plastic bags with crystals in them.
What to Do in an Emergency
If you see someone who looks like they are on Flakka, your safety comes first. Call 911 right away and stay away. Unless you’re trained and have support, don’t try to physically stop the individual, as it can lead to violent outbursts. People that use Flakka can be unpredictably violent and have superhuman power. Let emergency services know what you’re observing so they can be prepared.
The Path to Recovery
You need professional help to get over your Flakka addiction. First, medical stabilization is needed to deal with the immediate physical dangers. Then comes psychological support to help with the mental health problems and other underlying issues that may have led to drug use. Stimulant addiction recovery programs such as in House of Zen can provide the professional treatment you need for long-term sobriety.
Why Is Flakka Different?
Flakka is one of the most dangerous drugs circulating today. It poses more dangers than most drugs because it is so unpredictable and has deteriorating physical effects and devastating mental effects. Every usage can be potentially fatal because of the combination of hyperthermia, aggressive behavior, psychosis, and multiple organ failure. There is no safe method to experiment with this substance.
Conclusion
This is the most important thing to remember: Flakka isn’t worth the danger. Not for the cheap high, not out of curiosity, not even once. The possible effects include death, permanent disability, aggressive behavior, and long-term mental illness. These are much worse than any temporary side effect you might have in your mind. If you or someone you know is having trouble with drugs or alcohol, call us now. Recovery is possible, but only if you are alive to pursue it.
