Flakka Drug Effects and How to Get Help for Flakka Abuse

Similar to other synthetic cathinone drugs, α-PVP can effectively inhibit norepinephrine and dopamine transmitters. The adverse reactions of α-PVP mainly include mania, tachycardia, and hallucinations. An increasing number of people are being admitted to emergency wards due to the consequences of their use.

It can cause compulsive drug-seeking behavior even when people know the health, social and legal consequences of their actions. For example, Molly, a version of MDMA or Ecstasy, was marketed to health-conscious, young professionals as a designer drug that was a pure form of Ecstasy and therefore relatively harmless. The fact is, however, that Molly is almost never near its pure form by the time it gets to the end user, and thousands of people have landed in the emergency room, developed addictions, and died from using the drug. Users of the stimulant designer drug are reportedly running through the streets naked, screaming, and in how to identify liberty caps a fit of rage. Vivid hallucinations characterize the “high” created by use of Flakka, as is a body temperature that can skyrocket up to 106 degrees.

What are the symptoms of flakka abuse?

These patients are a threat to themselves, the people around them, and the first responders (police, EMS) who are there to help them. It is common to hear reports that it takes multiple people to restrain and sedate these g6pd fruits to avoid patients. Rescue crews and emergency department staff need to give sedatives to these patients to calm them and make them safe.

9. Legal Status of α-PVP

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. Flakka is a highly addictive and dangerous drug, otherwise known as alpha-PVP (alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone.) It is an amphetamine-like stimulant that belongs to the cathinone drug class. Cathinones are man-made, or synthetic drugs containing cathinone, a naturally occurring stimulant found in the khat plant. Flakka is the nickname of alpha-PVP, a synthetic cathinone derived from the Africankhat plant.

By mid-2015, α-PVP had caused 105 fatal intoxications in Europe 20. In Europe, these drugs were mainly purchased on websites or in small packages as souvenirs. Bath salts, in general, are psychoactive synthetic drugs (designer drugs) made in large quantities in foreign drug labs. These drugs are all related to a broader group of chemical compounds known as synthetic cathinones, chemically similar to a substance found in the khat plant, which is known for its amphetamine-like stimulant effects.

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Unlike most drugs in this class which simply have an excitatory effect on the central nervous system, this one also has psychoactive effects, which is why it is sometimes referred to as the zombie drug. This combination can be dangerous, as the increased energy and psychoactive effects can cause harm to the individual or others. As with all substance abuse, those experiencing addiction to flakka should screen for co-occurring mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety.

In addition, national governments should take relevant measures in order to control the use of this novel dangerous drug. Future research should focus on the development of analytical methods for rapid identification in both live and dead specimens. Α-PVP poisoning was notably detected in Scandinavian countries, Denmark, and Iceland in 2012. In Finland, there were 162 cases of using various illegal drugs in 2012, confirmed by positive test results. In Sweden, there were 255 cases using various illegal drugs, confirmed by positive test results. From April 2013 to November 2015, there were 31 patients with α-PVP poisoning, james anderson author of which 73% were known drug users 64.

1. Apart from resulting in CNS stimulation and euphoria, these compounds exhibit other negative impacts, mostly resembling those of amphetamine.
2. The onset of a Flakka overdose is often rapid and can cause heart problems, aggressive behavior, and psychosis.
3. The synthetic drug may be eaten, injected, snorted, or vaporized in e-cigarettes.
4. Nevertheless, there is a lack of knowledge regarding if these metabolites are pharmacologically functional.
5. The combination of a high body temperature and extreme muscle overactivity can cause other metabolic problems to happen in the body.

Flakka is a synthetic cathinone with effects and a chemical makeup similar to bath salts and CNS stimulants. The adverse side effects of the drug include volatile psychosis, leading it to be dubbed “the zombie drug”. Addiction Resource is an educational platform for sharing and disseminating information about addiction and substance abuse recovery centers. Addiction Resource is not a healthcare provider, nor does it claim to offer sound medical advice to anyone. Addiction Resource does not favor or support any specific recovery center, nor do we claim to ensure the quality, validity, or effectiveness of any particular treatment center.

Additionally, the drug can cause the breakdown of muscle tissue and kidney failure, even after short-term use. In Australia, α-PVP is a banned substance according to Schedule 9 of the Poison Standard (July 2016) 81. Unless required for medical or scientific research or analysis, or for teaching or training purposes, the law should prohibit their manufacture, possession, sale, or use. In a study with rodents, the acute administration of α-PVP at doses of 1–10 mg/kg by vapor or injection evoked a robust dose-dependent hyperlocomotion, likely involving enhanced signaling at dopamine D1 and D2 receptors 51. Human psychopharmacological effects of α-PVP occur 10 min after a single dose (typically between 15 and 300 mg), peaking within 10–40 min and lasting for 2–3 h. Α-PVP stimulates a considerable increase in locomotor performance, which appears much faster than the locomotor performance stimulated by methamphetamines 44.