Attorney General Pam Bondi today announced continued efforts to stop Flakka and other synthetic drug deaths in Florida.
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Attorney General Pam Bondi today announced continued efforts to stop Flakka and other synthetic drug deaths in Florida.
The Attorney General’s 2016 Florida Designer Drug Enforcement Act could categorically outlaw synthetic drugs in Florida.
A recent grand jury report released by the Broward State Attorney’s Office, which attributes more than 60 recent deaths to Flakka, highlights the legislation as one way to help stop Flakka-related deaths.
Pam Bondi
“This report unfortunately confirms that our legislation is desperately needed to save lives in Florida,” said Attorney General Bondi.
“Flakka use is killing people and we must work together to ensure it does not overwhelm our state like Oxycodone did just a few years ago.”
Since taking office in 2011, Attorney General Bondi has worked with state lawmakers to ban 136 chemical compounds commonly used to produce synthetic drugs, including alpha-PVP, the main ingredient in Flakka.
The Designer Drug Enforcement Act would outlaw synthetic drugs, through the use of a classification system, not just individually identified compounds.
This past June, Attorney General Bondi initiated a statewide campaign to warn parents about the risks of Flakka use and how to identify the drug.
Flakka is sometimes referred to as gravel because it often looks like small white rocks; it can also be purchased in powder form, and is usually sold in small clear packages.
Flakka causes delusions, hallucinations and increases in users’ body temperature to a dangerous level. It can also cause chest pains, irregular heartbeats, increased blood pressure, agitation, muscle breakdown and seizures.
Flakka use can also cause suicidal thoughts and violence.
If anyone suspects someone is using Flakka, they should call local law enforcement and a crisis intervention center. If someone is having a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.
