PCP: Effects and Risks
Contact Walking Miracles for immediate assistance with PCP
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Phencyclidine or PCP is a dissociative type of hallucinogen. It was developed in the 1950's as an anesthetic and administered intravenously. A dissociative drug means that it can distort the way a person sees and hears things, in addition to producing feelings of detachment from a persons' environment. It is found in the form of tablets, powders and capsules. Common street names for PCP are "angel dust", "wet" or "amp". PCP is snorted, ingested or when it is smoked on top of marijuana or other leaves it may be called a "sherm" or "dipper".
Historically, PCP was used as an anesthetic, but because the side effects were so extreme, they discontinued the use. Some PCP side effects are:
- Addiction
- Abuse
- Loss of coordination
- Extreme mood changes
- Visual distortion
- Audio distortion
- Hallucinations
- delusion
- Feelings of impending doom
- Violence
- Paranoia
Some extreme effects or signs of overdose may be:
- Shallow breathing
- Low blood pressure
- Blurred vision
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Coma
- Seizures
- Death
As with most drugs, you can never be certain how a drug will affect a person. It will be different for everyone. Sometimes it depends on what state of mind a person is currently in before they take the drug, or maybe you are taking other drugs in addition to trying PCP. Under the influence of PCP, sometimes you feel less pain, and you may injure yourself by attempting some physical act that you are not really capable of doing, resulting in serious injury or death. You never know if you will have a serious or deadly reaction to the drug. PCP affects your mind, and could induce a psychotic state resembling schizophrenia. In addition, PCP is addictive. You may be hooked after the first time you try it. Once hooked on the drug, you may build up a tolerance to it. It will then take more of the drug to achieve the same effects. Illegal drugs, bought on the streets, are never "free". Someone may offer it to you once, but after that, you may find yourself doing things you never thought you would do just to get your drug. You may lie, steal, sell your belongings, or even sell your body. It is such a high risk you may want to reconsider trying recreational drugs.
If you are already past that point, and you know you have a problem with PCP, don't wait until it's too late. There is help out there. There are counselors, therapists, 12-step groups, doctors and treatment centers that can help you.
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