Flakka is a not-so-new synthetic drug, which rapid rise has led to rampant panic— and misinformation. Flakka goes by a lot of names. Floridian lay-people call it flakka; everyone else in the U.S. calls it gravel; scientists call it alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone; and scientists who can’t pronounce “pyrrolidinopentiophenone” call it alpha-PVP. Hereafter, it will be referred to as alpha-PVP, which is also preferred by newspapers with limited column inches. Like most drugs, alpha-PVP is a product of the tumultuous 1960’s, when Americans were apparently as addicted to illegal substances as they are to cell phones today. However, its rise in popularity has been sudden of late, causing the more fear-mongering members of the press to write headlines like “Police Are Freaking Out Over Flakka ‘Zombies’” (Vice News). This puts it firmly in the category of “Moral Panic” drugs. But do not let this lull you into a false sense of security, either: it is a Schedule I drug, designated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and also subject to a temporary ban by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. Side effects are alarming, if not well-studied. Sergeant Jarrod Lauth of the Madison County Sheriff’s Drug Task Force reports that users experience increased delirium, rapid weight loss, staying up to all hours and extremely constricted pupils.
According to multiple reports, alpha-PVP can be obtained for as little as $3 to $5 per dose. It enters the body through various ways, some of which require no specialized paraphernalia— snorting, injecting, vaping and eating— which makes it even more accessible than simply being cheap. The epicenter of the drug’s use is in Broward County, evident in headlines about the drug which usually begin with “Florida Man…” The Broward County Addiction Recovery Center has seen a dramatic rise in clients who use the drug. Said the Center’s Director, Paul Faulk, “It's been a drain to our organization as far as resources go because they behave in a way we have never seen with drug or alcohol intake: much more aggressive, paranoid, very anxious, and that makes it very very difficult to treat them.” In Madison County, the rise has not been as drastic, though it should be clear that Madison County enjoys a much better crime rate than Broward County and is free from many of Broward’s big-city ills. Madison County has seen a rise in drug use overall. According to Sgt. Lauth, “Flakka has become the most popular drug in Madison County.”
Lauth added that most think they are buying Molly or MDMA but in reality are getting Flakka. This statement follows broader trends. Alpha-PVP is extremely addictive and cheap: this makes it a prime ingredient for drug dealers to lace into other drugs to keep their clientele coming back for more. Though the media has focused on cases that are the most extreme, less extreme cases are more common. Not everyone that uses the drug flies into a violent rage and this skew can be damaging, making it harder for civilians to recognize the side effects of alpha-PVP. Unprovoked paranoia, emotional hostility, physical aggression and anxiety are common— if a loved one is exhibiting these signs, even without stripping naked and attacking trees with a kitchen knife, it might be time to get help. Especially noting that Faulk reports a 30-day detox from the drug, meaning that it can take up to a month of sobriety to get completely out of an addict’s system.