'Five-dollar insanity' drug becoming increasingly popular, police warn

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — An increasingly popular designer drug is behind a rash of bizarre crimes in Florida.

Police say one man ran naked through his neighborhood, tried to have sex with a tree and called himself the Norse god Thor. Another ran nude down city streets in broad daylight, convinced a pack of German shepherds was after him. Two others separately tried to break INTO the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, desperate for help from imaginary mobs.

Police say all of them had smoked, swallowed or injected "flakka," a synthetic drug with an active ingredient called alpha PVP. It's like Ecstasy and other designer drugs, but cheaper and easier to smuggle through the mail.

Many young people are "vaping" it using electronic cigarettes. Police say repeat users can experience severe hallucinations, paranoia and violent fits. Some addicts are calling it "five-dollar insanity."



As many as five to ten flakka incidents a week are occurring in South Florida, Fort Lauderdale Capt. Dana Swisher told WSVN.

"Individuals on this drug are exhibiting super-human strength," Swisher said. Our officers usually don't address a person on flakka if they don't have minimally four people there."

Officials are having trouble outlawing the drug, WSVN reports, as minor changes can be made to alter the chemical compound.