A synthetic stimulant that can be purchased for as little as five dollars and remains legal across much of the United States is being linked to a wave of violent and erratic incidents, with cases rising by nearly 780% in just three years.
The drug, known as flakka — or “gravel” in parts of Ohio and Texas, where it resembles the coloured pebbles used in fish tanks — belongs to the same chemical family as bath salts, the synthetic drug that made international headlines several years ago for causing extreme and sometimes fatal behavioural episodes. The key difference is that while the active compound in bath salts was formally banned in the United States in 2011, flakka’s main ingredient, a chemical called alpha-PVP, was not included in that prohibition. In any state that has not introduced its own specific ban, the substance is entirely legal to buy and sell.
That legal grey area, combined with its low price point, is widely seen as the driving force behind its rapid spread. In 2010, not a single case had been recorded by US authorities. By 2012 there were 85 reported cases. By 2014 that figure had climbed to 670. Law enforcement in Florida, where the drug has become most visible, have described the affordability as a serious concern — noting that bulk purchasing is straightforward and accessible.
The drug is a stimulant, meaning it produces effects broadly similar to cocaine or amphetamines — elevated mood, increased alertness and heightened physical activity. Researchers believe it works by triggering surges in dopamine, which creates feelings of euphoria, and norepinephrine, which raises heart rate and blood pressure. Because so little research exists specifically on alpha-PVP, scientists are largely drawing comparisons with better-understood drugs to estimate its effects and addictive potential.
At higher doses, the consequences appear to be significantly more severe. Flakka has been associated with extreme paranoia, hallucinations and violent outbursts. Several incidents in Florida have been widely reported: one man ran naked through a street intersection insisting he was being chased; another was filmed attempting to kick through the glass entrance of a police headquarters; a third reportedly impaled himself on a metal fence.
Beyond the behavioural effects, the drug has been linked to dangerous spikes in body temperature at high doses — a risk also associated with bath salts — which can lead to kidney damage and the breakdown of muscle tissue.
Like cocaine and methamphetamine, flakka produces a significant comedown once it leaves the body, leaving users fatigued and low, which researchers say creates a cycle of repeated use that can quickly develop into dependency. Users may also find they need increasing doses to achieve the same effect over time.
The substance can be snorted, smoked, injected or swallowed, and is currently being monitored by the US Drug Enforcement Administration as its reported use continues to climb.
