Shocking Stories Reveal Serious Dangers of Flakka

There’s a whole new synthetic drug “craze” sweeping the nation courtesy of a drug known as Flakka. The Drug Enforcement Agency had no reported cases involving Flakka as recently as 2010, but that number soared to 670 in 2014.

While many of the young users say the substance is “relatively harmless,” recent studies and reports are proving that’s far from the case.

Just the Facts About Flakka

New findings published in the journal Psychopharmacology found that Flakka is even more addictive than methamphetamine.

Researchers at the Scripps Research Institute conducted a lab experiment with rats to determine that it’s also just as potent as MDPV, the primary chemical found in bath salts.

However, what’s truly making headlines around Flakka is the bizarre conduct of its users when they’re high on the drug. Experts say users develop a feeling of superhuman strength and experience psychotic behavior.

“We’re starting to see a rash of cases of a syndrome referred to as excited delirium,” said Jim Hall, an epidemiologist at the Center for Applied Research on Substance Use and Health Disparities at Nova Southeastern University.

“This is where the body goes into hyperthermia, generally a temperature of 105 degrees. The individual becomes psychotic, they…have an adrenaline-like strength and police are called and it takes four or five officers to restrain them. Then once they are restrained, if they don’t receive immediate medical attention they can die.”

 Frightening Results of Flakka

For all those who are under the misguided assumption that Flakka is safe or “isn’t that bad,” it’d be a good idea to do some research into the ugly and often brutal results of this synthetic. For example, here are three recent, real-life examples out of Florida that just how dangerous Flakka can be – for both the user and those around them.

 Example #1

Last April, a Melbourne man was arrested after attacking a police officer and attempting to have sex with a tree. Yes; you read that correctly.

The officer used a taser in an attempt to subdue Kenneth Crowder, 41, but he continued to punch the officer and even tried to stab the cop with his own badge. Eventually, the cop punched Crowder and brought him to the ground.

Crowder later declared that he was the mythical god Thor.

Example #2

In March, a Riviera Beach native high on Flakka was arrested after beating an 82-year-old woman inside her own home.

Derren Morrison, 26, was reportedly hallucinating and convinced someone was trying to kill him when he attacked Louise Clinton. The grandmother received medical care at a local intensive care unit after suffering internal bleeding and a fractured neck. Morrison is now facing charges of attempted murder.

 Example #3

Last February, a SWAT team was called to the home of Lake Worth native Leroy Strothers, 33, after he stood  naked and wielding a gun on the rooftop of his apartment building, yelling “I feel delusional and I’m hallucinating!”

After an unsuccessful suicide attempt with a pistol, officers were able to negotiate him off the roof before arresting him. He was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon and discharging a firearm in public.
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