Drugs are not a new concept to college students. Whether you’ve tried them or know someone who has, the stories are engrained in your mind about the good, the bad and the ugly of what happens when you decide to “experiment.”
Since 2014, Broward has fallen victim to and led the nation in the increased use of alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone, or alpha-PVP. This drug, otherwise known as “Flakka,” or gravel, has been a Schedule I illegal controlled substance since Jan. 2014. The Drug Enforcement Administration declares that this kind of drug has no current medical use and a high potential for abuse. Other drugs in this classification include heroin and LSD, which are known for potentially severe psychological or physical dependence.
Flakka is a dangerous version of bath salts and appears in the form of white or pink crystals. Like other substances, users eat, snort or inject the drug. Crime lab reports also show that many people vaporize the drug into an e-cigarette, which has been shown to increase the risk of overdosing and makes the effects more dangerous to the user.
Bath salts are designer drugs known for containing one or more synthetic chemicals that are related to cathinone. Cathinone is similar to amphetamines, which are used to stimulate the central nervous system. They are also similar to MDMA, or ecstasy. Much like amphetamines or MDMA, bath salts cause a stated of excited delirium, which is when body temperatures spikes and muscle tissues breakdown. Often times, this leads to kidney failure.
“It has effects even more severe than crack cocaine or methamphetamines,” said James Hall, an epidemiologist at NSU’s Center for Applied Research on Substance Use and Health Disparities. “It has a longer duration of action in the brain due to its molecular structure and that can trigger some very serious adverse consequences.”
Like other bath salts, Flakka may cause hyperstimulation, paranoia and hallucinations. Many reported cases involving the drug led to suicide, heart attacks and kidney damage. The serious effects are a result of the duration of the high, which can last up to a few days. Because the effects of Flakka last so long, there is a much greater risk for permanent damage to be done.
Hall said that college students are at risk for targeting from dealers. Many dealers sell the drug as molly or cocaine because of the similar appearances. Aside from the more commonly stated effects, people are at an extreme risk for cognitive impairment, which can last 30 days or longer.
“The college population is at risk because of the drug’s low cost, availability and desired stimulant effects,” he said. “It can dramatically impact the ability to think. Users sometimes say they can’t think when they’re on the drug.”
Hall said Flakka is one of the most potent stimulants on the market. It is highly addictive, which makes people want to purchase more of it as time goes on.
“Even though people are afraid of this drug, they find themselves compelled to go back and use it again and again,” he said. “Any use extends that compulsion and puts you in danger.”
To help combat Flakka, many community services are providing informational trainings. Debra Goldman, director of Henderson Student Counseling Services, attended a training hosted by the Broward Sheriff’s Office. She said that the training went over what the drug is, where it came from and what her and other Henderson staff members should look for.
“There is not as much known as we would like to know,” she said. “It’s a new thing to our community and it’s really finding the best way to keep the community safe. We are constantly learning about new trends because it helps us provide the best care for our clients.”
The drug is often sold in quantities as small as one-tenth of a gram for as little as $3 to $5. Distributors in China sell it over the internet and ship the drug to dealers worldwide. Only one kilogram of Flakka can provide approximately 10,000 doses, which is what allows the dealers to sell it so cheap. According to reports from United Way of Broward County Commission on Substance Abuse, most dealers target the low-income or homeless communities because of the minimal cost. Selling it for such a low cost and at such high quantities allows dealers to make a large profit.
According to UWBCCSA, Flakka is linked to 27 deaths in Broward County between Sept. 2014 and June 2, 2015. Broward County hospitals reported approximately 20 Flakka overdose or excited delirium cases per day since March 2015. Flakka, along with other synthetic cathinones, have increased their presence in South Florida crime lab reports by 46 percent from 2013 to 2014.
Goldman recommends that people learn more about Flakka and other trending issues in their communities.
“If we have some knowledge of what we’re looking at, we can hopefully help students to the best of our ability,” she said. “It’s important for students to know what’s going on with Flakka because it’s good for them to know what’s going on in their neighborhoods, in their communities and with their friends.”
For more information about Flakka, call 211, Broward’s designated information center. If you, or someone you know, is using the drug, call 911. To talk to a professional about substance abuse, contact Henderson Student Counseling at (954) 424-6911.
