Author: John Carter

PCP Addiction: Signs, Treatment, and Prevention

PCP is a drug that can cause a variety of physical and psychological symptoms, which often increase in intensity with higher dosages. Feelings of depression and anxiety are common effects, even with low doses of PCP. This is especially true when you mix angel dust and substances that depress the central nervous system (CNS). The combo can cause your breathing to become dangerously slow and lead to respiratory arrest or coma. If PCP is smoked, snorted, or injected, you typically begin to feel the effects within 2 to 5 minutes. It’s become a common club drug in the last couple of decades and produces effects similar to other dissociative substances, like special K.

1. Many believe PCP to be one of the most dangerous drugs of abuse.
2. There, your health and safety can be monitored as you recover.
3. Also call if you are having withdrawal symptoms that concern you.

A larger dose will have the opposite effect, reducing blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing. Adrienne Santos-Longhurst is a freelance writer and author who has written extensively on all things health and lifestyle for more than a decade. PCP is a synthetic drug made from a combination of chemicals, including potassium cyanide, bromobenzene, ether, and hydrochloric acid. Outpatient therapy may also be an option for those who require more flexibility. These programs involve participating in individual or group therapy sessions during the day and returning home after each session. Taking PCP (even in low doses) can take a toll on your memory.

Severe depression

Experts have found that programs like cognitive behavioral therapy or talk therapy can be effective for substance addiction. Over time, the more you use the drug, the more tolerance you’ll build. This means you’ll need to use higher doses to get the same level of high. If you take more than 20 milligrams at once, it can cause you to overdose and could lead to serious problems like seizures, a coma, or even death. A typical dose is 5 to 10 milligrams, and 10 mg has been reported to cause stupor. The effects are felt 30 to 60 minutes after oral ingestion, or a few minutes after smoking.

These effects may vary depending on a person’s tolerance and personal factors,such as weight and age. In some cases, it’s possible for PCP to cause over-the-top psychological effects that make you feel stronger than you are and engage in violent behavior. This could cause you to physically harm yourself or others. Users of PCP are often brought to emergency rooms because of the drug’s severe psychological effects and violent or suicidal behaviors. These are things that you see, hear, or feel while awake that appear to be real, but instead have been created by the mind. Individuals who use the drug regularly require higher doses to feel its effects.

PCP was initially developed as a general anesthetic for surgery by Parke Davis Pharmaceutical Company. Though it was briefly used in humans, it was soon discontinued due to its psychological and behavioral side effects. Though withdrawal from PCP is not life threatening, it may require treatment from a trained healthcare professional. Higher doses or frequent use can cause severe depression and anxiety, along with suicidal thoughts and behavior.

Anyone seeking recovery from PCP use will need medical supervision and possibly hospitalization. Angel dust was originally developed in 1926 and introduced as a general anesthetic in the 1950s. However, it was discontinued in 1967 and limited to veterinary use due to its adverse side effects.

Treatment Options

Factors like how much you use and whether you’re using other substances also affect how long you feel angel dust. PCP’s effects generally last from 6 to 24 hours but linger up to around 48 hours in some people. In people with more body fat, effects can come and go or fluctuate over a few days to months. At a lower dose, PCP makes you feel euphoric, floaty, and disconnected from your body and surroundings. As you increase the dose, the effects get more intense, leading to hallucinations and erratic behavior. When a person is addicted to the drug, they may spend significant time and money to obtain and use it.

It inhibits the reuptake of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. Leafy plants such as mint, parsley or marijuana are often sprayed with the chemical, or a rolled joint is dipped into a PCP solution and then smoked. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Long-term use can affect your ability to speak properly or at all.

People who stop ongoing use of PCP experience drug cravings, increased appetite, headaches, sleepiness, depression, and sweating as common withdrawal symptoms. While studies are looking at options for drug treatment of PCP dependence, there are no specific approved treatments for PCP abuse and addiction. Patients may need to be hospitalized and receive behavioral treatments to address abuse issues with PCP. Many PCP users are brought to emergency rooms because of PCP’s unpleasant psychological effects or because of overdoses. In a hospital or detention setting, they often become violent or suicidal, and are very dangerous to themselves and to others.

It’s essential to educate yourself about the dangers of PCP use. Seek help if necessary and take steps to prevent substance abuse. People use this as a recreational drug despite it being illegal. It’s essential to understand the risks of using it and seek help if you or someone you know is struggling with addiction.

Many believe PCP to be one of the most dangerous drugs of abuse. A moderate amount of PCP often causes users to feel detached, distant, and estranged from their surroundings. Individuals who are dependent on PCP should speak to a doctor about safe ways to stop taking the drug. During rehab for PCP addiction, health professionals help people overcome withdrawal in a safe environment.

More on Substance Abuse and Addiction

Recovery takes time, however, as the person will need support as they learn the skills necessary for a drug-free life. Addiction can also develop, as a person builds up a tolerance to the drug. Addiction and related mental health problems make it hard to function socially, financially, and professionally.

Combining PCP with other drugs may also increase the risk of overdose. Weed laced with PCP may increase the chances of hallucinations or overdose symptoms. Many people use the drug to feel high and to hallucinate. Like other dissociative drugs, PCP can make people feel disconnected from the body. PCP is a psychologically and physically addictive drug.

What are PCP’s effects on the brain?

But it’s also sold as tablets or capsules that you can swallow. In some cases, people mix it with tobacco, various cannabis products, or even mint and oregano. Poor judgment and reasoning skills, psychosis, paranoia, and self-injurious or violent action may occur in those already prone to these behaviors. The person may develop a type of psychosis similar to that seen in schizophrenia. It is made illegally in secret laboratories, along with dozens of analogs (drugs that are chemically similar) available on the street. It is thought to be made primarily in the United States (U.S.), mostly in Southern California, but it is distributed across the country.

In its purest form, PCP is a white crystalline powder that readily dissolves in water or alcohol and has a distinctive bitter chemical taste. On the illicit drug market, PCP contains a number of contaminants causing the color to range from a light to darker brown with a powdery to a gummy mass consistency. The risk of drug addiction is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Some people can develop tolerance and dependency toPCP without becoming addicted. Taking a large dose of the drug increases the chance of experiencing life-threatening overdose symptoms.