Who Answers?PCP Substance Abuse - PCP Addiction
PCP an Anesthetic Drug
The drug PCP was developed in the 50s and was medically used as an intravenous anesthetic. Phencyclidine at one time was marketed legally under the trade names Sernyl and Sernylan. Because of serious side effects, PCP is no longer used and has been discontinued.
Phencyclidine was heavily abused at one time but between the late 1980s and 1990s PCP abuse started to decrease. Today the abuse of PCP has come back and the abuse is increasing. This drug is popular among young adults and is considered a party drug or 'club drug'.
What is PCP or Phencyclidine?
PCP or also referred to as Phencyclidine is a hallucinogenic drug that distorts a person's perception. Their perception of time, space, sight, what they hear and how they view anything around them is distorted including what they touch. Reality is gone and replaced by very abnormal and distorted thoughts, sights, sounds and feelings.
This video explains in more detail all the effects PCP can have on an individual and their brain.
The reason people abuse PCP is because of the mind altering effects they receive. There are a few ways a person abuses this drug. They sniff or snort the drug, smoke it, or swallow it. The most common way PCP is abused is by smoking it though.
The drug user takes leafy type products like mint, parsley, oregano, tobacco, or marijuana (cannabis) and then covers it in powdered PCP. The user then rolls this mixture into a cigarette which is called a 'joint' and then smokes it. Marijuana joints and cigarettes that have been dipped into a PCP solution are referred to as a 'dipper'. Most of the time an individual that uses PCP does so in small quantities. Around 5 to 10 milligrams is about the normal dose.
PCP comes in several forms, powder, crystal tablet form, capsule form and in a liquid form. Most of the time phencyclidine is sold in a liquid and powder form. There have been times that Ecstasy also referred to as MDMA has been found containing PCP.
PCP Effects
Phencyclidine is a powder that's colorless and dissolved in water. This drug is illegally produced in clandestine labs then sold to PCP drug abusers. In small doses this drug causes decreased coordination, feelings of numbness and slurred speech. Sometimes this is followed by feelings of strength and deep assurance of oneself. Rapid eye movements and a blank stare are also low dose effects of PCP abuse.
Larger doses of PCP cause illusions and hallucinations that are heard. Blood pressure increases with larger doses of PCP as well as rapid and shallow breathing, heart rates can be elevated and body temperatures can be too.
Habitual and chronic abuse of PCP
When this illegal drug is abused on a regular basis dependency and addiction can occur. Withdrawal symptoms can also take place if the abuse is chronic and you abruptly stop abusing the drug. Habitual users can also face memory and thinking impairment. Speech problems and stuttering can also occur due to chronic PCP abuse. Long term abuse can cause suicidal thoughts, anxiety, depression and the individual can become socially withdrawn and isolated.
PCP Street Prices
- Tablet forms are anywhere from $5.00 to $15.00 a tablet
- Powdered PCP goes for $20.00 to $30.00 for a gram of powder
- The liquid PCP is sold anywhere from $200.00 to $300.00 for an ounce
- The dipper is sold for $10.00 to $20.00 a piece
Street Names
Now that this illegal drug is popular again, people that abuse PCP refer to it on the streets as:
- Rocket fuel
- Embalming fluid
- Shermans
- Angel dust
- Ozone
- Crystal
- Hog
- Wack
Many drug users combine or mix PCP with marijuana and on the streets this is referred to as:
- Super grass
- Killer joints
- Waters
- Lovelies
- Fry
- Wets
Inpatient drug treatment and behavioral therapy are helpful for those suffering from addiction. Many people have not only recovered from drug addiction but have gone on to help others. Addiction treatment centers are available everywhere and can help you or someone you love recover from their drug addiction too.
Websites Used
NIDA PCP-Phencyclidine
U.S. Department of Justice DEA Phencyclidine
U. S. DEA PCP
NIDA Hallucinogens
