It’s been called “$5 insanity” and been responsible for both superhuman feats of strength and unbelievable bouts of delusion.
“Flakka,” or “gravel,” is the latest synthetic drug that’s being snorted, smoked or injected by addicts looking for a cheap high, and it has been responsible for a series of bizarre headlines across South Florida.
A Florida man running for his life through the streets of Fort Lauderdale — naked, except for a pair of sneakers — is symbolic of the latest drug craze striking dread in law enforcement.
“Longtime addicts who have tried flakka, they’re terrified of it,” Broward County Sheriff’s Office treatment counselor Don Maines told the Sun-Sentinel. “They can’t think straight, they’re paranoid, they think people are chasing them. One guy thought he was surrounded by German shepherds that were attacking him.”
Streaker Matthew Kenney, 34, was sent for psychiatric evaluation Saturday after Fort Lauderdale police chased and finally subdued him. He told cops people were chasing him and took his clothes — and that he smoked flakka before experiencing the terrifying hallucinations.
Flakka, imported from China, Pakistan and India, prolongs the effect of dopamine and serotonin, known as a state of “excited delirium,” and can lead to a spike in body temperature as high as 106 degrees, according to Forbes.
It’s the cousin of “bath salts,” whose amphetamine-like key ingredient was banned in 2011. Flakka uses a-PVP, a stimulant that can be cut or mixed with other mainstream drugs such as cocaine, heroin or meth.
Maines said a user called it: “$5 insanity. This is as bad as it gets.”
Flakka’s rise has been dramatic. The Drug Enforcement Administration said there were no Florida cases in 2010, 85 in 2012 and 670 reported last year.
“The drug is stimulating their brain making them think there may be people chasing them, people after them, maybe the devil is trying to get them, take their heart out,” Broward Health Emergency Room doctor Nabil El Sanadi told CBS Miami, noting a spike in cases.
Fort Lauderdale police have reported two freak incidents since February where people allegedly high on flakka created mayhem at their doorstep.
Shanard Neely, who told cops he had just smoked flakka, was impaled by a gate spike attempting to climb the fence surrounding the Fort Lauderdale police station on March 22, WSVN reported.
Fire rescue had to cut away a section of the fence to free Neely, who had to undergo emergency surgery and was given a psychological evaluation.
Another man cops said was high on the synthetic drug tried to break down the station’s front door just one month earlier. Surveillance video shows James West frantically trying to get into the station, kicking the door and throwing a rock.
“He gave the explanation that several cars were chasing him and he ran to the police department for help,” Fort Lauderdale Police Det. Tracy Figone told CBS Miami.
West was arrested but the flakka onslaught continues.
Follow on Twitter @jmolinet
ON A MOBILE DEVICE? WATCH THE VIDEO HERE.
