December 10, 2019Tyler Collins
Have you ever heard of the drug called PCP? This drug may not be as popular as cocaine, heroin, opioids, or meth; nor is it as trendy as Xanax, LSD or MDMA. However, it doesn’t mean that just because it’s relatively unpopular, this makes it less dangerous. If you want to learn more about the drug PCP, read on for some quick facts.
PCP is short for phencyclidine. It is also known in the streets as angel dust, embalming fluid, elephant tranquilizer, wack, the peace pill, supergrass, rocket fuel, ozone, killer joints, and hog.
Historically, the drug was developed back in the 1950s as a surgical anesthetic.
However, not long after, it was discovered that the drug caused risky side effects including hallucinations, irrational thinking, mania, and agitation.
In the mid-1960s, it was discontinued for use in humans due to these side effects and was only allowed for veterinary use. The legal manufacturing of PCP in the U.S. was suspended in 1979 and it is now illegal in the United States.
If a person is caught manufacturing, distributing, possessing, or using PCP, that person may face imprisonment. However, PCP is still being made illegally and it is believed that it is being manufactured in California and distributed across the country.
It is listed as a Schedule II hallucinogenic drug by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency because it carries a high potential for abuse. Using PCP may also result in physical or psychological dependence.
When a drug is reported to be hallucinogenic, this means that it is mind-altering and it can change a user’s mood, perception, and thought patterns. It can even cause a person to see things that are not real or imagine things that are not truly happening.
What does PCP look like?
PCP is a white, crystalline powder in its pure form, which quickly dissolves in alcohol or water.
It has a distinctively bitter, chemical taste. The drug, however, can also be sold in capsule, pill, or tablet form.
PCP is often used by mixing the powder with leafy substances like mint, oregano, or marijuana, which is then smoked. Some users snort the powder, while some mix it with a liquid and injecting it with a syringe in the body.
How PCP affects a person:
The effects of PCP can be felt depending on how it was taken or ingested into the body. It can be felt in two to five minutes and the effects can last from six to 24 hours.
A low dose of PCP is reported to have a similar effect to having alcohol intoxication. It can have an adverse effect on memory, the ability to learn and process information, as well as emotions. Because of the hallucinogenic effects, it can result in making users feel detached from their surroundings and even their bodies.
When a user takes higher doses of PCP, this can result in many other symptoms. Aside from hallucinations, using PCP can lead to symptoms similar to that of schizophrenia. These symptoms include psychosis, delusions, anxiety, paranoia, bizarre behavior, aggressive actions, suicidal thoughts, violence, and trouble forming coherent thoughts.
Using PCP can also result in distortion of sight, sound, and reality for the person. It has been shown to cause users to feel that they are invincible and possess superior strength. These false beliefs and perceptions can be very dangerous as they can cause users to engage behavior that can be life-threatening not only for the users but to surrounding people as well. It can even result in accidental death.
PCP is also reported to act as a sedative. However, if it is mixed with other sedatives such as depressants or alcohol, it can lead to life-threatening consequences such as comatose.
In addition to the psychological effects, using PCP can also manifest physically. A user may feel dizziness, numbness, drooling, loss of balance, loss of muscle coordination, garbled or slurred speech, excess sweating, vomiting, nausea, and rapid eye movements.
Recovering from PCP abuse
PCP has a high potential for abuse and can lead to addiction. It is highly addictive.
Using PCP for an extended period can result in physical and mental cravings. Even if the drug causes dangerous effects and negative health issues, those who are addicted still keep taking the drug. Often, hospitalization and professional treatment are required to recover from PCP addiction.
If you or a loved one is struggling with substance abuse, help is available.
Contact Lighthouse Treatment Center today.
