PCP is often considered to be the most dangerous hallucinogen. It si commonly referred to as “angel dust” or “purple haze,” yet it goes by so many street names that people often aren’t even aware that they’re using it. It is often mixed in with or sold as LSD, and it may be added to marijuana or coke to give these substances an added kick.
A schedule 2 drug, PCP was once used as a veterinary anesthetic, but was banned because of its high theft rate – people kept breaking into animal clinics and stealing the drug for personal use. Nowadays it is easily cooked up in street labs that can be set up and taken down in 24 hours.
The brain on PCP
The effects of PCP show up 1 to 5 minutes after taking it, and peak within the next 5 to 30 minutes. The trip lasts approximately 4 to 6 hours. It is almost always taken in groups when people are aware they’re using it.
Most people who take it experience rather unpleasant effects. It can lead to numbness or an inability to move, and some people think they are dying. It often produces scary hallucinations. Some people, however, experience feelings of strength, power, and heightened sensitivity on the drug.
Side-effects & signs & symptoms of PCP use
A person on PCP will usually experience flushing, excess sweating, nausea, double vision, dizziness and vomiting. They’ll often have a lack of coordination, sport a blank stare, or exhibit side-to-side eye movements but no pupil dilation.
The dangers of PCP
There are many risks associated with PCP use. Not only does the drug come with serious side effects, but it can cause psychotic breaks with reality. Users have been known to jump out a window or leap off tall buildings thinking they can fly. It can also produce violent behavior. A bad trip or psychotic episode can sometimes be managed by moving a person to a calm environment and giving them valium.
PCP can also trigger or worsen mental illness. It causes a psychosis similar to schizophrenia, and when given to schizophrenics, their condition becomes much worse for 6 weeks afterwards. It’s capable of causing a similar mental decline among ordinary users. In fact, PCP use is often misdiagnosed as a schizophrenic episode. (Hanson et al., 2004, p. 366)