Psychologically, users are prone to hallucinations, severe agitation, and impaired judgment, which lead to risky and harmful actions. Yes, chronic use of Flakka leads to lasting brain damage, including cognitive impairments, memory loss, and severe psychosis. According to Watterson and Olive (2017), Flakka’s ability to overstimulate dopamine pathways causes neurotoxic effects, contributing to cognitive decline. The study found that a stable rate of inpatient detoxification occurred between 2003 and 2011, with 75% of cases involving opioid use disorder and 48% involving co-occurring mental health disorders. The research emphasizes that comprehensive care following detox significantly improves recovery outcomes by reducing the likelihood of relapse.
Approaching the User
Flakka addiction rarely occurs in isolation since it is often part of poly-substance abuse. Medical professionals take into consideration that Flakka users often abuse it alongside other drugs and will experience withdrawal effects from those drugs as well. They will be sure to adjust medications and provide careful monitoring to ensure a safe detoxification.
What are the Long-Term Effects of Flakka?
This was part of an effort to curb the abuse of synthetic drugs, which were becoming increasingly popular and causing significant health issues. Various instances of “Man on Flakka” have been captured in videos on news channels and social media platforms such as YouTube. 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. By mid-2015, α-PVP had already caused 105 fatal intoxications in Europe alone.
- It leads to rapid onset and overdose risks but also introduces extra dangers like infection and vein damage from needle use.
- Synthetic cathinones, in general, are addictive, and the longer an individual uses Flakka, the higher their tolerance level becomes, leading to compulsive cravings.
- Snorting or swallowing flakka results in somewhat slower effects, but they remain powerful and dangerous.
- Medical detoxification is the first step to help manage withdrawal symptoms, followed by structured treatments that support long-term recovery.
- Below, we’ll explain flakka, why it can be so dangerous, and how communities can respond with both precaution and compassion.
Flakka Withdrawal Symptoms
Bath salts usually contain MDPV or mephedrone, while flakka (alpha-PVP) is a second-generation version. Despite its street-level reputation as a “zombie drug,” it’s primarily a chemical cousin of other stimulants like amphetamines and “bath salts,” with a high risk of severe side effects. Law enforcement and community activists were instrumental in limiting the damage done by the drug’s dangerous effects. Most reports of flakka after 2016 turned out to be other similar chemicals in the bath salt family. Communities with high rates of Flakka use, have seen a surge in criminal activity and public disturbances linked to the drug. According to Zawilska and Wojcieszak (2017), nearly half of Flakka users have been involved in legal trouble, from minor infractions to violent crimes.
Screening Tools for Flakka Addiction
- 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.
- Understanding who is most affected and the broader societal implications sheds light on why it remains a public health concern.
- Flakka, sometimes called alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone (α-PVP), is a synthetic cathinone known for its stimulant properties and unpredictable potency.
- Flakka belongs to the family of synthetic drugs commonly referred to as “bath salts.” Flakka is typically abused through oral ingestion, but it can also be eaten, smoked, injected, or vaporized in e-cigarettes.
The risks and complications of Flakka addiction are severe and long-term, affecting physical health, legal status, and social life. Physically, chronic Flakka use leads to serious conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, and irreversible damage to the nervous system, including cognitive impairment, persistent paranoia, and memory loss. Flakka is classified as a synthetic cathinone, specifically alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone (α-PVP). It belongs to the same chemical family as “bath salts” and works by blocking the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain, producing effects similar to amphetamines. Dopamine is known as the “feel-good” neurotransmitter, playing a significant role in addiction.
Why Do People Use Flakka Despite Its Risks?
Some complications of flakka drug abuse can happen while the drug user is acutely agitated if they were to harm themselves or others; however, medically, the severe consequences of the agitation caused by the drug appear later. Agitated patients can go into a state called “excited delirium,” which is a medical emergency. In the excited delirium state, restrained patients struggle to free themselves, scream, flail, and can even have seizures. The combination of a high body temperature and extreme muscle overactivity can cause other metabolic problems to happen in the body.
Ongoing memory issues, cognitive impairments, and mood disorders can persist even after cessation. Chronic anxiety and paranoia may become lifelong struggles, making recovery without proper help much more challenging. It leads to rapid onset and overdose risks but also introduces extra dangers like infection and vein damage from needle use. Snorting or swallowing flakka results in somewhat slower effects, but they remain powerful and dangerous.
Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms
Flakka produces effects resembling those of cocaine but significantly more intense. The immediate impacts on both the body and mind can be severe and hazardous. Flakka and bath salts share similar chemical properties as they are both synthetic derivatives of cathinones. Cathinone is a naturally occurring stimulant found in the khat plant, which has been used for centuries in Africa and the Middle East. Yes, Flakka is highly addictive and it is crucial to receive professional help for a Flakka addiction. Synthetic cathinones, flakka zombie drug info in general, are addictive, and the longer an individual uses Flakka, the higher their tolerance level becomes, leading to compulsive cravings.
Rediscover Life at Right Choice Recovery
These programs provide a highly structured and supportive environment where individuals receive therapy, counseling, and education about addiction. This setting can be particularly beneficial for those with severe addiction or a history of relapse. If drug addiction is less severe, outpatient treatment programs are also an option, as these allow individuals to live at home while attending regular therapy sessions and support groups.
The epicenter of the flakka epidemic was Broward County, Florida, which includes the city of Fort Lauderdale. Researchers have not thoroughly clinically studied the long-term effects of flakka, but renal failure can occur that is irreversible. Internationally, the legal status of flakka varies by country, but many countries have taken steps to control its use due to its dangerous effects.
Even with known dangers, people continue to use flakka for various reasons. Avenues Recovery is a community-based drug and alcohol rehabilitation center with locations across the United States. Whether you’re an educator, a concerned parent, or a community member looking to protect vulnerable neighbors, knowledge is the key to fostering safer environments and supporting those most at risk. Understanding who is most affected and the broader societal implications sheds light on why it remains a public health concern.
Even though the packaging may state, “not intended for human consumption,” cathinone bath salts are sold as drugs of abuse. Norepinephrine buildup triggers “fight-or-flight” responses, such as increased heart rate, high blood pressure, and hyper-alertness. Many flakka users become agitated or panicked, sometimes exhibiting violent outbursts.