Like many illicit substances, they are distributed in doses that are difficult to determine and PCP is frequently mixed with other intoxicating substances. The various forms can be swallowed, snorted, or smoked, either alone or in combination with other drugs like tobacco, marijuana, and MDMA. If someone believes they or someone else is experiencing a phencyclidine overdose, they should call 911 or local emergency services immediately. Doctors can often treat symptoms of toxicity and help prevent severe complications.
Forms Of PCP
A moderate amount of PCP often causes users to feel detached, distant, and estranged from their surroundings. PCP also can cause long-term, serious https://sober-home.org/alcohol-detox-and-rehab-programs-what-to-expect/ effects that may last up to a year after drug use. They include memory loss, depression, trouble thinking and speaking, and weight loss.
How to Talk to Your Kids About Drugs
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. The liquid form of PCP is actually PCP base often dissolved in ether, a highly flammable solvent. For smoking, PCP is typically sprayed https://sober-house.org/what-is-animal-therapy-all-you-need-to-know/ onto leafy material such as mint, parsley, oregano, or marijuana. If you or someone else needs urgent help after taking drugs or drinking, call 999 for an ambulance. This means that regular users feel the need to keep taking PCP, in spite of the risks.
Physical health risks
The effects are felt 30 to 60 minutes after oral ingestion, or a few minutes after smoking. Immediate effects last 4 to 6 hours, but a return to a normal state can take up to 24 hours. By Molly BurfordMolly Burford is a mental health advocate and wellness book author with almost 10 years of experience in digital media. If you work in an industry related to transportation, national safety, or public safety, you may be required by law to undergo regular drug testing. These include jobs regulated by the Department of Transportation.
Toxic psychosis
The substance may both depress and stimulate the central nervous system (CNS). If you or someone you love is using PCP, it’s important to seek help right away. Please call American Addiction Centers (AAC) free at to speak with someone who can help you find a treatment provider.
Prescription Addiction: Who’s at Risk?
As with any drug, you can never be sure what you are taking and how you will react to it. In the past PCP has been found to be mixed with other substances, such as cocaine and ecstasy. How long the effects last and the drug stays in your system depends on how much you’ve taken, your size and what other drugs you may have also taken.
- But phencyclidine is still available as a street drug throughout the country.
- PCP is addictive; that is, its repeated use often leads to psychological dependence, craving and compulsive PCP-seeking behavior.
- Mouth swab drug tests are a drug screening tool that uses saliva to detect various substances in your system.
- When one becomes addicted to phencyclidine, they often resort to drug-seeking behaviors that are characteristic of addiction.
- Common street names for PCP are the peace pill, angel dust, crystal joints, rocket fuel, sawgrass, zoom, the sheets, and elephant tranquilizer.
The majority of emergency department visits due to PCP in 2011 involved male patients (69%). Forty-five percent were patients who were 25 to 34 years old. Patients who were aged 18 to 24 years old and 35 to 44 years old accounted for 19% of emergency department visits each. According to the American Association of eye color may be linked to alcohol dependence Poison Control Centers, there were two deaths from PCP in 2012. Our writers and reviewers are experienced professionals in medicine, addiction treatment, and healthcare. AddictionResource fact-checks all the information before publishing and uses only credible and trusted sources when citing any medical data.
Psychiatric evaluation should be considered in patients whose medical symptoms/complications have resolved but required further management of behavioral issues. Saliva testing is sometimes used to assist in detecting this substance in a person’s body, primarily because this check yields the fastest results. Within five to ten minutes, the drug is detectable in saliva. However, the duration is shorter, as the substance is only detectable for about three days following the use of the drug.
The half-life of a drug is how long it takes for the body to reduce the amount of the drug by half in the bloodstream. The half-life can be shorter or longer based on how a person takes phencyclidine. This article looks at the presentation of phencyclidine intoxication, potential complications of using the substance, and signs of an overdose.
PCP is known by many other names, including horse tranquilizer. Though it’s no longer approved for use in humans, it’s still sometimes used as a tranquilizer for animals. PCP is a drug that can cause a variety of physical and psychological symptoms, which often increase in intensity with higher dosages. Chronic PCP use can cause toxic psychosis, especially if you have a history of mental health issues. HPPD causes you to experience flashbacks and hallucinations for a long time after substance use.
The long-term effects of PCP use include memory loss, depression, weight loss, and trouble with speaking or thinking. Users may also experience suicidal thoughts and social withdrawal. Symptoms presenting in a PCP user can mimic those of schizophrenia (e.g., delusions, paranoia, etc.). A person can experience any of these problems for up to a year after ceasing use of the drug.