PCP / ANGEL DUST
Background PCP is the common name for the chemical Phencyclidine. It's pharmacological nature is commonly referred to as Disassociative Anesthetic, however it can possess the properties of a CNS depressant, CNS stimulant, a hallucinogenic, and an analgesic. Street names include Peace Pill, angel dust, crystal, hog, horse tranquilizer, flakes, embalming fluid, and rocket fuel. It is sometimes mixed with marijuana and referred to as Love Boat or Killer Weed. It can also be mixed with crack, which is known as Space Basing. PCP was developed after WWI as a surgical anesthetic. Later found to NOT be safe it was shelved until 1957 when Parke-Davis pharmaceuticals dusted it off, renamed it Sernyl, and began testing it again as an anesthetic. It was effective, but the side effects were severe hallucinations, jumbled speech, and delirium so P-D discontinued testing in 1965. Still looking for a use for the drug, Parke-Davis renamed it again, this time Sernylan, and marketed it as an animal tranquilizer. Around that same time, mid-to-late 1960s, the drug showed up on the streets of San Francisco as "Peace Pill." It didn't take long for word to spread that this drug had triggered many bad experiences and the market died out. It also showed up in New York as "hog" but the story was the same -- it spread quickly, but people realized that it was dangerous and usage dried up. It also showed up frequently in the 1970s under different names --Angel Dust, Horse Tranq, Embalming Fluid, etc. -- sometimes being snorted, sometimes being mixed with tobacco, marijuana, or parsley and smoked. It is a white, crystalline powder that is soluble in water or alcohol. It may be found as pills, capsules, powder or liquid. The powder is sometimes tinted to change the color. The pills, capsules, and liquid are administered orally. The powder is snorted, or sprinkled on marijuana, tobacco, or parsley and smoked. Sometimes a solution of the drug is injected. Legal use of the drug has been discontinued and it is no longer legally manufactured in the US. Effects The effects of PCP can be very unpredictable. Central Nervous System effects can include euphoria, loss of inhibitions, anxiety, disorientation, restlessness, drowsiness, or disorganized thinking. There can also be distorted time, space, and body sensations, feelings of weightlessness, paranoia, and the feeling of being disassociated with the environment. The user can experience audial and visual hallucinations as with LSD. In the body, PCP raises the heart rate and blood pressure. It can also cause excess salivation, sweating, numbness, staggering, slurred speech, fever, and muscle rigidity. In toxic doses, the user can become hostile and violent, acting in a bizarre or psychotic manner. They may attempt to assault other people, or to harm themselves through self-mutilation or suicide. The person may experience amnesia and become catatonic. In high doses, there may be coma, convusions, and death. Persons who've received toxic doses must often be restrained and receive tranquilizers to calm them down. Many users report profound after-effects ranging from depression, disassociative states, confusion, paranoia, and feelings of insanity. By some reports, these symptoms can continue for years after the initial experience. Special Characteristics: PCP is often sold as a substitute for other drugs, causing panic in unsuspecting users. Fact: Even in low doses, PCP produces harmful psychological effects. One dose may produce physical effects that last for months. Other Resources |