Flakka is a synthetic drug that is similar in chemical composition to that of the highly addictive drug, bath salts. It is a street drug, being synthesized locally in Florida, and seems to be making headlines at a record pace. In just the past year, a girl in South Florida, covered in blood, accosted two police officers claiming to be “Satan and God.” A man in Fort Lauderdale impaled himself on a fence while high on the drug. And of course, there is the story of a man who was high on flakka attempting to have intercourse with a tree in Melbourne, FL.
Aside from the obvious effects of the drug, it is becoming popular because of the intense high caused by the substance. What’s causing it to make headlines is that he can cause panic-inducing hallucinations and aggressive behaviors.
There are a couple of reasons why this drug is especially terrifying: Number one, the effects I mentioned above tend to cause people to act violently while under the influence. Number two, it’s relatively easy to make. Number three, it’s incredibly cheap. These three reasons are enough for me to panic about the potential spread of this drug across the country.
The best thing that we can do is to learn about flakka. If people are aware of the dangerous effects of the drug, hopefully they will encourage their communities to stay away from it.
