Flakka | Apparently, it’s made almost entirely in laboratory in mainland China, where it is legal and may be legally shipped out of that country.
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Stimulant that Went Viral Now Under Islamic Scale

Tehneer Qureshi
04 March, 2018

This article is from the Science page’s archive; it was firstly published in an earlier date.

“Satan’s plan is to sow enmity and hatred among you with intoxicants and gambling, and to hinder you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. Will you not then give up.” (Surat Al-Ma’idah 5:93).

In this Qur’anic verse, Allah blocks all the avenues to the wrong. Therefore not only committing the sin but also facilitating or spreading it is an equally big sin.

Fortunately or unfortunately, we belong to this age of modern era, where we all are running the race without knowing the finishing line. We have excelled the art of masking ourselves, hiding all our emotions within and gradually leaving a void space within us.

However, some people resort themselves to psychiatrist and some try to handle themselves through self-administration of drugs to gratify their instant desires and fill the vacuum within for a short span.

“Having it now” becomes the agenda for millions and they enjoy to slick through this fire and the flame within ignites stronger with each episode.

There’s been a roaring of slavish addiction to drugs in the world and one such new drug which is swamping the market is Flakka, formally known as α-pyrrolidinopentiophenone.

This synthetic stimulant is related to the natural stimulant cathinone which is an active ingredient of khat leaves chewed throughout Ethiopia, Somalia and the Arabian Peninsula.

Apparently, it’s made almost entirely in laboratory in mainland China, where it is legal and may be legally shipped out of that country.

Mostly, all the drugs have an effect on the brain but this designer drug wins the battle when it comes to deterioration. It affects the nervous system by blocking the activity of dopamine and norepinephrine and hence leaves the brain with increased levels of the same.

South Florida has been one the hub or you can say “the sea of flakka.” This unleashing drug is very pleasing to the users as it is extremely versatile, since its effect on the brain is the same by any route of administration, it can be snorted, injected, swallowed or discretely hidden in e-cigarettes or vape. It’s easy affordability to the users and yet profitable to the dealers adds on to its popularity. It’s been also named by ‘$5 insanity.’

Flakka effects on brain and body are severe enough to warrant immediate attention legally and medically as it becomes compulsive for the users to take the drug interfering with ordinary life responsibility.

The addict abusers experience a state of extreme euphoria with increased alertness and wakefulness. There have been reported cases of vivid hallucinations.Drug Addiction

They become extremely impulsive with an uncontrolled behavior often leading to criminal offenses. This aberrant behavior usually mimics psychosis of schizophrenia.

With higher and repeated doses they reach a stage of paranoia where they go completely out of reach of reality gaining superhuman strength with increased physical activity and disinhibited muscle twitching with muscle breakdown causing rhabdomyolysis and dehydration progressing towards renal failure and death.

Flakka stimulates and increases the heart rate and blood pressure. It can bring the body to a state of hyperthermia to almost around 40.5 degree centigrade. Eventually, it only destructs the normalcy of a person where one loses the capacity to control their minds.

Islamic Shari’ah on Drug Addiction

The objectives of Islamic divine Shari’ah are the protection of one’s belief , life, property, and the mind. Normally, our brains have an inhibitory control which tells us not to engage in wrongful acts.

Therefore, any suppressant drug that harms the nerve pathways and takes away such restraint is forbidden. The ability to make a judgment and protect the body, a quality for humans is taken away under the influence of such recreational drugs and hence why it is haram.

The Holy Qur’an has given us the complete aspect to fulfill our desires with moderation without allowing the desires to take control of one’s life.

Allah says: “O Children of Adam! Wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer: Eat and Drink: But waste not by excess, for Allah loveth not the wasters.” (Surat Al-Aa’raf 7:31).

“O You who believe, intoxicants, gambling, and the altars of idols, and the games of chance are abominations of the devil; you shall avoid them, that you may succeed.” (Surat Al-Ma’idah 5:90).

“They ask you about intoxicants and gambling: say, “In them there is a gross sin, and some benefits for the people, (alcohol in medicine for example, cocaine in anesthesia and pain medications) But their sinfulness far outweighs their benefit. ……..” (Surat Al- Baqarah 2:219).

“O you who believe! Approach not prayers, with a mind befogged, until you can understand all that you say.” (Surat An-Nisa’ 4:43).

“O you who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divinations by) arrows, are an abomination of Satan’s handiwork: Avoid such (abomination) that you may prosper.” (Surat Al-Ma’idah 5:93).

“Say: My servants, who have transgressed against their soul, despair not of the mercy of God; for God forgives all sins; for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Surat An-Najm 53:39).

All the above verses of Qur’an clearly states us that Allah, The Creator, has blessed us with this beautiful life for a purpose of a Divine Mission which is sufficient to restore the balance and quickly exit the state of  heedlessness.

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