When an individual ingests Flakka, the chemical compounds released from this drug bind themselves to the protein in the brain that transports dopamine. It is no secret that dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain that plays a crucial role in the feelings of reward and pleasure. 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.
Is there treatment for flakka addiction?
These urine drug tests are called a bath salt drug test kit or Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) urine drug test. It might be a term of endearment in Latin America, but “la flaca” means something entirely different in the international drug world. Spanish for ‘pretty, skinny girl who charms all she meets’, Flakka is a highly addictive designer drug known for its ability to make people go crazy. Horrific stories of Flakka addicts displaying bizarre behaviour including running through the streets naked, gaining superhuman strength and engaging in violent acts, have led to it being referred to as the ‘Zombie drug’. Here, the team at Delamere wellness retreat shares more information on this dangerous drug, its origins, composition and the reason it’s so addictive. Flakka is the nickname of alpha-PVP, a synthetic cathinone derived from the Africankhat plant.
Heat and Mood Disorders
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Heat and Brain Health
- However, as psycho stimulant, this drug can cause paranoia, hyper stimulation and hallucinations.
- Collectively, these findings support zebrafish sensitivity to α-PVP and show some parallels with its effects in mammals.
- The results showed that α-PVP consumes ATP, causes a loss of cell membrane integrity, and increases superoxide radical anion levels in C2C12 myoblasts in a concentration-dependent manner.
- Use of cathinones can produce energizing and agitating effects, as well as increased sociability and sex drive, paranoia, hallucination, panic attack, and excited delirium.
- Additionally, Flakka hinders the reuptake of this neurotransmitter by the brain cells, producing an intense feeling of euphoria.
The result is severe hyperstimulation and excitability in the brain. Flakka is a potent inhibitor of the dopamine and norepinephrine transporters but https://sober-house.net/dangers-of-snorting-ambien-zolpidem-insufflation/ has little to no effect on serotonin [1]. Despite flakka’s inclusion as a schedule I controlled substance in 2016, the drug remains easy to obtain.
Behavioral therapy can treat addiction to synthetic cathinones like flakka. Examples of behavioral therapy include cognitive-behavioral therapy, contingency management and motivational incentives. In simple words, Flakka is a synthetic biofeedback therapy drug that was developed in a laboratory. It is an artificial stimulant that can induce hallucinatory effects. It is also known as alpha-PVP and is a cathinone drug that falls under the category of other substances known as bath salts.
Screening Cut-Off and Detection Time
For example, an individual taking Flakka may be paranoid to such an extent that they may feel that a large group of people are chasing them. As a result, they might become aggressive to everyone around them. Individuals who use Flakka for the long term may suffer extreme paranoia, mental illnesses like depression and anxiety, and suicidal tendencies.
There are two major reasons why flakka has become increasingly popular in a short amount of time. The first reason is the fact that the drug is extremely versatile and the effects of flakka on the brain are the same no matter the route of administration. The drug can be snorted, injected, swallowed and can be discreetly hidden in an e-cigarette or vape. The drug, called flakka, has become widespread in the state of Florida and it has also popped up in both Ohio and Texas. The drug is so new to the scene there is little to no information available on federal drug information sites such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The sudden and dramatic surge of the drug has no doubt caused great concern, and while not much is known about the drug, the effects of flakka on the brain and body are severe enough to warrant immediate attention.
Apart from this, Flakka can also damage the arteries by blocking the blood vessels, which can lead to severe cardiovascular problems in the long run. Flakka is notorious for triggering many long-term effects in your brain and body. This drug can instigate muscle damage, failure of the vital organs like the kidneys and the liver, and even heart attacks. Flakka can even permanently impair the brain’s decision-making and judgment ability.
There is a lack of scientific research on the long term effects of Flakka. 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. The drug Flakka is a relatively new synthetic drug that has raised alarm in medical and law enforcement communities due to its potency and ability to induce erratic behavior in users.
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.
As little is known about flakka, detoxing in the care of medical professionals is essential. The stimulant can even produce psychological problems in those with no history of mental illness. A 2016 study published in the journal Case Reports in Psychiatry indicatedthat a teen girl with no past psychiatric diagnosis experienced psychotic episodes after taking flakka.
The combination of a high body temperature and extreme muscle overactivity can cause other metabolic problems to happen in the body. Muscle tissue begins to break down, releasing proteins and other cellular products into the bloodstream, in a process called rhabdomyolysis. The result of the cellular products and proteins released during rhabdomyolysis and dehydration can impair the filtering function of the kidneys, leading to renal failure and death. In addition, such agitation https://sober-house.org/is-it-safe-to-mix-antibiotics-and-alcohol-safety/ may trigger Taser use or other methods that have the potential to harm the individual when law enforcement personnel have to intervene. 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.
Α-PVP can be orally ingested, smoked, snorted, used parenterally, and also vaporized in e-cigarette devices. Vaporizing drugs in e-cigarettes is becoming a common method of administration for synthetic cathinones and classical stimulants. This latter route of administration leads to a rapid introduction into the blood stream, resulting in a high risk of overdose. The drug has been reported to cause depression, panic attacks, chest pains, paranoia, hallucinations, aggressive behavior, self-injury behaviors (including suicide), and prolonged psychosis [31].
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