More than 3 percent of high school seniors in the United States used the drug at least once in their lifetime, and more than 1 percent used the drug in the past year, according to the University of Michigan's Monitoring the Future Survey. PCP is an addictive drug; its use often results in psychological dependence, craving, and compulsive behavior.
PCP produces unpleasant psychological effects, and users often become violent or suicidal. PCP poses particular risks for young people. Even moderate use of the drug can negatively affect the hormones associated with normal growth and development. PCP use also can impede the learning process in teenagers. High doses of PCP can cause seizures, coma, and even death often as a consequence of accidental injury or suicide while under the drug's effects.
At high doses, PCP's effects may resemble the symptoms associated with schizophrenia, including delusions and paranoia. Long-term use of PCP can lead to memory loss, difficulty with speech or thought, depression, and weight loss. These problems can persist for up to a year after an individual has stopped using PCP.
The most common names for PCP are angel dust, animal tranquilizer, embalming fluid, ozone, rocket fuel, and wack. Marijuana or tobacco cigarettes that are dipped in PCP are called illy, wet, or fry. Please see the Street Terms text box below for additional names. The name PCP is a short form of the drug's chemical name. On the street, PCP is often sold as a white powder. It can also come as a liquid, capsule, or tablet. As a powder, it's snorted. In liquid form, it can be injected.
As a tablet or capsule, it's swallowed. The powder form is often mixed with tobacco, dried parsley, or cannabis and then smoked. Like all hallucinogens, PCP affects the mind and the senses. PCP has different effects on different people. It causes some people to feel joy and others can feel nothing but anxiety and panic.
Sometimes this panic can lead to violent behaviour. Some people have symptoms like believing things that aren't true delusions , seeing things that aren't real hallucinations , and feeling like someone is out to get them paranoia. How people are affected depends on many things including age, sex, weight, and if the person is taking other drugs.
PCP causes many body changes, including faster breathing and a faster heart rate. It can also cause blurry vision, dizziness, and numbness in the legs and arms. PCP is also known as a dissociative drug. It causes you to feel separated from your body and surroundings.
Using PCP may make you feel:. People who use PCP can get psychologically addicted to it. This means their mind is dependent on PCP. They are not able to control their use of it and they need PCP to get through daily life.
Addiction can lead to tolerance. Tolerance means you need more and more PCP to get the same high. If you try to stop using, you may have reactions.
These are called withdrawal symptoms, and may include:. Treatment begins with recognizing there is a problem. Once you decide you want to do something about your PCP use, the next step is to get help and support. Treatment programs use behavior change techniques through counseling talk therapy. The aim is to help you understand your behaviors and why you use PCP. Involving family and friends during counseling can help support you and keep you from going back to using relapsing.
If you have severe withdrawal symptoms, you may need to stay at a live-in treatment program. There, your health and safety can be monitored as you recover.
Medicines may be used to treat withdrawal symptoms. At this time, there is no medicine that can help reduce the use of PCP by blocking its effects. But, scientists are researching such medicines. Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you or someone you know is addicted to PCP and needs help stopping. Also call if you are having withdrawal symptoms that concern you.
Iwanicki JL. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap Kowalchuk A, Reed BC. Substance use disorders. Textbook of Family Medicine. National Institute on Drug Abuse website.
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