Everything about the alphas (flakka or monkey dust)

Flakka or monkey dust is the street name for various new psychoactive substances, such as α-PVP/alpha-PVP, alpha-PiHp, and a-PHP. Mainline gets a lot of questions about these new designer stimulants. We are developling a harm reduction program, a training program, and we are currently carring out action research about the emergence of these substances.

Overview

Monkey dust, of MD, is the street name for different designer drugs including MDPV (3,4-methyleendioxypyrovaleron) and MDPHP (3′,4′-Methylenedioxy-α-pyrrolidinohexiophenone). These are synthetic cathinones that belong to the so-called ‘pyro’s’. Monkey dust is often incorrectly described in the media as the ‘zombie drug’. The substance gives strong stimulating and long-lasting hallucinogenic effects. Monkey dust is sold as a (off-)white, yellow, of brownish (fine or coarse) powder or small crystals, although rarely as a paste.

Its effects are often compared to that of other strong amphetamines, such as cocaine and crystal meth: increased alertness, positive mood, increased focus, boost in energy, better sociability and talkativeness, and a suppression of appetite. Even more so that other stimulating drugs, monkey dust increases the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine and after use, withdrawal symptoms are delayed. Monkey dust causes intense cravings and a severe comedown after use.

In the Netherlands, a number of pyro-variants were ‘legally’ available online until 2024. As a result of the public nuisance they caused because of the severe effects on people’s physical and mental health, all pyros have since been legally banned. Since then, there is more uncertainty about the composition and strength of monkey dust. If you don’t know what you’re exactly you are using, that increases the chances of (unintended) overdoses with severe negative consquences, in particular, anxious and realistic (hallucinatory) images. You are your own guinea pig. 

Toedieningswijze  

Roken, snuiven, slikken (bommetje), botty bumpen. Injecteren (slammen) wordt ten zeerste afgeraden, vanwege de vergrootte kans op ernstige complicaties (o.a. zware psychoses, aderproblematiek). 

De effecten van monkey dust duren meestal twee tot drie uur, maar kunnen tot acht uur aanhouden. Deze zijn naast dosering en toedieningswijze tevens afhankelijk van de gebruikservaring en van met welke andere drug(s) wordt gecombineerd. Hoe meer en vaker je (door)gebruikt, des te korter de gewenste effecten zullen zijn. 

Physical, Psychological and Sexual Effects

Physical: Increase in blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, focus, energy, alertness and muscle tension, dilated pupils, suppression of hunger and thirst, skin issues, dental issues, muscle cramps and muscle spasms.

Psychological: Increased self-confidence, sociability, and euphoria. 

Sexual: Lowering of sexual inhibitions and increase in long-lasting sexual energy and focus.

Acute Risks

Dependent on dosage, frequency and duration of use.

Physical:  Insomnia,weight loss, overheating, exhausation, heavy sweating, jerky movements, balance disorders, teeth grinding, shortness of breath (smoking)< strongly increased blood pressure and heart rate, epileptic attacks, heartpain, asthma attacks, pneumonia.

Psychological: Prikkelbaarheid, geïrriteerdheid, agressie, hallucinaties, angst- en paniekaanvallen, ‘paranoia’, opwindingsdelier, dwangmatig gebruik, intense craving, ‘beestjes onder de huid’, relatief snel controleverlies, langdurige psychoses, suïcidale gedachten/pogingen.  

Short- and Long-term Risks

Loss of social connections, work, and housing, severe weight loss, liver damage, gloominess, depression, psychosis, strong mental dependence (addiction), memory loss, weakened immune system, suicidal thoughts/acts. 

harm reduction

During outreach work, particularly in the West-Brabant and Zeeland region, Mainline spoke with people who use a variety of alpha’s. What stood out was that people suffer multiple negative health issues after regular alpha use – including both physical and mental symptoms.

Based on what people told use, Mainline developed an expanded harm reduction program. You can find the full report (in Dutch) here:

training

Voor professionals die in de maatschappelijke opvang, verslavingszorg of handhaving werken, ontwikkelde Mainline een training over de alpha’s. Mensen die alpha gebruiken kunnen in een psychose of opwindingsdelier terecht komen. Gedrag kan na gebruik onvoorspelbaar zijn of snel wisselen. Hoe je daar als professional mee om kunt gaan, leer je in de training.

Mainline has developed a training about the alpha’s for professionals who work in social services, addiction care, or law enforcement. Peopel who use alpha often experience psychosis or delirium. Behaviour after using alpha can be unpredictable or change quickly. In this training, you will learn how to deal with that as a professional.

action research

In the second half of 2024, Mainline carried out action research about ‘the alpha’s’, on behalf of the Nationaal Rapporteur Verslavingen (National Addiction Rapporteur). We wanted to know if the exisiting harm reduction and care services adequately meet the needs of Alpha users.

We also wanted to know how the market has developed since various alpha variants were banned, and how users adapt to these changes. Finally, we gathered best practices from the field and assessed whether care provision needs to be expanded or policy adjusted.

More info

Do you want to know more about the Alpha’s (flakka or monkey dust) en Mainline’s approach? Get in contact with Ella Bowler.

Get in contact with Ella Bowler

e.bowler@mainline.nl