A few short years back, there was an illicit drug hitting the streets that drove people mad. Flakka was its name, and it has since proven itself to have side-effects that turn individuals into a completely different person. Some call it the Zombie Drug due in large part to the fact that those who use it have been known to bite off people’s flesh. The drug seems like something a master villain would think up in a comic book, but this is as real as it gets. That being said, what exactly is flakka?
What Is Flakka?
Flakka is a hallucinogenic drug that causes temporary psychosis to those who use it, and is relatively easy to get ahold of. Also called Gravel or Flocka, Flakka is a combination of Crack Cocaine, Heroin, and Meth; in short, it is a monster drug.?
The nature of drugs like flakka derive from Khat, a plant that grows in East Africa and Southern Arabia. Flakka is an Alpha-Pyrrolidiopentiopenone (alpha-PVP) which leads people to express violence and riot destructively like a zombie.
This drug is now considered a Schedule 1 drug by the DEA, meaning if someone is found possessing or using the drug, they could face up to 30 years in prison. It is so dangerous that the mere use of it can lead to substance abuse.
Flakka can be snorted, swallowed, injected, or smoked. One interesting thing concerning the drug’s make-up is that it is eerily similar to Bath Salts. Some suggest that it is an evolution of the drugs because of the form in which it sometimes is sold: little white rocks, hence the term ?Gravel’.
Bath Salts
Bath Salts are classified as Synthetic Cathinones; these are central nervous stimulants used to achieve the same effect as Meth or Cocaine. Bath Salts are often listed as “plant food” or “bath salts”, and labeled “not for human consumption.” These can be found in smoke shops, gas stations, the internet, or adult book stores. Bath Salts, similar to Flakka, can be snorted, smoked, and injected. Users take Bath Salts in order to achieve alertness and euphoria, but, similar to Flakka, they cause people to go psychotic, becoming very aggressive and violent.?
Symptoms of Flakka Usage
Those who use Flakka usually express the following symptoms:
- Agitation
- Aggression or Violence
- Delusions of Superhuman Strength
- Paranoia
In some cases, people have become paranoid to the point of barging into a police station to seek safety from a threat they’d only imagined; others include agitated people running naked in the middle of a busy street. These acts are all a direct result of the influence Flakka puts those who use the drug under.
The Effects of Flakka
The effects of Flakka include the following:
- Euphoria
- Heart Palpitations
- Aggression
- Alertness
- Increased Blood Pressure
Flakka’s effect on the human body is what most people would imagine on the surface. Upon taking it, dopamine rushes to the brain and distorts the pleasure center. This acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain and distorts the normal function of processing excitement, allowing the user to experience intensified euphoric emotions.?
Once Flakka runs its course on the body, the mind travels to a state of depression. During this time, users often feel fatigued, a side-effect of depression. This often leads those who abuse Flakka back to the drug to achieve the excitement that it offers them. As a result, a tolerance is built up towards the drug, and because of that, dependance ensues. In some cases, dependence has resulted in overdose and death.
When using Flakka in high doses, the body’s temperature will rise exponentially. This often leads to kidney damage. Despite the extreme dangers of the drug, it is still vastly popular. What’s even worse is that since the drug is relatively new, the long-term effects it has on the body can’t be properly evaluated.
Getting Help
Finding help for substance abuse is difficult for those involved directly and their families as well. For people who are suffering directly from substance abuse, it can be difficult to even admit that they abusing substances, let alone conceding to the acquisition of assistance.
For those who are seeking out help for substance abuse, it’s important that they are approached with understanding and care. This is necessary because, without understanding, they will completely shut people out. It is imperative that they don’t shut people out before you are able to talk about seeking treatment. Every patient who walks through the doors of our treatment facilities will be met with compassion so that they know they’re being well taken care of.
Addiction Treatment Services are available for those who are suffering from substance abuse with Flakka. These options are effective in helping cure even the most harmful of addictions. One of the services that those suffering from the use of Flakka may need is Inpatient residential treatment.
Inpatient Residential Treatment
Inpatient residential rehab is a treatment option that does particularly well for those suffering from the use of Flakka. This specific method is used in cases of severe substance abuse habits. Ranging anywhere from 28 days to six months, this treatment allows patients 24/7 access professional medical personnel. They also have access to professional psychiatrists and therapists throughout the days spent in recovery. Patients using this recovery method stay within the care of an Addiction Treatment Services facility.
ATS Can Offer You Help
For those suffering from intense substance abuse such as the excessive use of Flakka, there are recovery options that can go a long way in helping them. Some people don’t want help, most often because they are either ashamed to admit, or denying the fact that they’re dealing with a serious health problem. Addiction Treatment Services are available for them to pursue a life of stability and sobriety. For more information, you can contact us here.
