PCP
From Drug Rehab Wiki
PCP stands for phencyclidine. It falls in the category of dissociative drugs. People who use it often feel disconnected from their surroundings, as if they are having an out-of-body experience. Of all the recreational drugs, it is one of the most dangerous due to the unpredictable and sometimes violent effects it may have on users.
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Brief History of PCP
PCP has been around for many years. It was initially developed for use as a surgical anesthetic in the 1950s. However, medical authorities quickly realized it was not an ideal choice due to its unpredictable and undesirable side effects. PCP used as an anesthetic caused patients to experience serious reactions including impaired speech, hallucinations, agitation, and delirium.
For several years, PCP essentially disappeared from the drug scene. During the 1970s it began to re-emerge in a crystalline powder form as a recreational drug. On its own, PCP never really gained popularity as a recreational drug, but it was often mixed with other drugs. Because of its unpredictability, no one was really able to make it a profitable illegal drug. However, drug dealers realized that, when combined with other drugs such as marijuana, the effects were quite potent. It was also mixed with heroin and cocaine at times. Many people seeking a high from these drugs often unknowingly used PCP as well.
While it has many street names, PCP is most commonly referred to as “angel dust”. Other popular names include “ozone”, “killer weed”, “superweed”, “hog”, “rocket fuel”, “love boat” and “embalming fuel”. The name “angel dust” sometimes refers to PCP when it is mixed with heroin and / or cocaine.
It is manufactured as a white crystalline powder which has a bitter chemical taste which is quite distinctive. Colored dyes are sometimes added to the powder. It can also be made into capsule form.
How PCP Is Used
PCP can be used by a variety of means. Most PCP users smoke it, and many do this by lacing marijuana cigarettes with the drug. Some users add it to mint, parsley, oregano or other herbs and smoke it. Since it can easily be added to liquids such as water and alcohol, it can be drunk in a beverage. It can also be injected into one’s veins, eaten, and snorted as well. Although the powdered form of PCP is typically white, it is occasionally dyed and can be found in other colors.
Effects of PCP
PCP works in the brain by dramatically disrupting the distribution of glutamate – one of the brain’s neurotransmitters. Glutamate is associated with memory, the experience and perception of pain, and how a person responds to his or her environment. Users may find themselves in real physical danger without even knowing it. This is why accidents, particularly drowning, are the primary cause of death or injury for people under the influence of PCP.
As mentioned above, PCP is a dissociative drug. When taken, it often causes people to feel detached from themselves as well as their environment. When smoked, PCP can affect a person very quickly – sometimes in as little as two minutes. Due to its half life, it can remain in the body for up to 51 hours. Since it is an illicit drug manufactured without any controls or regulations, it is particularly dangerous because there is no way to determine exactly how much is being taken.
PCP can act as a depressant, stimulant, anesthetic and hallucinogenic all in the same dose. It can affect different people in different ways and can even affect a user differently each time he or she takes it, regardless of whether it is a low dose or high dose.
Those who have a bad reaction to PCP often have extremely frightening experiences as it can significantly distort their perception of reality. A bad experience can happen to someone the first or even the 100th time he or she uses PCP. Negative reactions may include very severe mood swings, delusions, horrible hallucinations and very violent aggressive behavior.
Issues with Long-Term Use of PCP
PCP is stored in fatty tissue of the body for long periods of time. Long term use and bad PCP experiences can have permanent affects on one’s body and mind long after the user has taken any. Long term use PCP can lead to memory loss, difficulty with speech, mood disorders and depression. The physical flashbacks from PCP can cause users to tremble and loose muscle coordination, leaving them with an odd gait. Long term emotional problems can also plague a PCP user.
PCP Addiction
PCP can be very psychologically addicting. As with all addictive drugs, an addict will develop an obsession with obtaining the drug. Behavioral treatment at residential treatment centers and outpatient rehabilitation centers, and participation in support groups such as Narcotics Anonymous (NA) have all been shown to help addicts refrain from continued use of this particularly dangerous drug.
