PCP/Phencyclidine

PCP/Phencyclidine is one of the hallucinogen drugs that is made illegally in private labs and sold on the street under such names as angel dust, wack, or crystal supergrass, to name just a few. It was first developed as an anaesthetic for use in surgery, but was discontinued after a very short time because of the delusional effects it had on the patients.

PCP produces some of the same effects as LSD, but is a much more dangerous drug. It has produced violent behavior in users as well as convulsions and coma leading to death. With this drug, everyone reacts differently, so there is no way to determine how it will affect each individual. This is because phencyclidine acts as a hallucinogen, a stimulant, a depressant and an anaesthetic – all at the same time.

The drug comes as a powder that you can mix with water or alcohol. It does have a bitter taste, so it is hard to slip it into a drink unnoticed. It is also mixed with dyes and sold in pill form and users either snort or smoke the drug or take it orally.

The repeated use of PCP will lead to a physical and psychological dependence on the drug. Some people only use the drug once and never try it again, whereas others become addicted because they like the feeling of strength and power it gives them.

The effect that PCP/phencyclidine has on the body depends on the strength of the dose. In low doses, it increases the heart rate and causes rapid breathing and profuse sweating. In high doses, the blood pressure and heart rate drop to dangerous levels. There are other effects as well, such as nausea, lack of coordination and balance as well as drooling. Symptoms of schizophrenia can also accompany a high dose of this drug.

When patients suffering from an overdose are brought to the hospital, many of them become very violent posing a threat to hospital staff, other patients and themselves. Symptoms of memory loss, difficulty speaking and thinking, and weight loss can continue for up to a year of taking PCP.