What is PCP?
Phencylidine or PCP is a synthetic drug that was developed in the 1950s as an IV anesthetic. PCP was never approved for human use because of problems during clinical studies, including intensely negative psychological effects. Other names for PCP include ''Angel Dust'', ''Wet'', ''Embalming Liquid'' and ''Sherms.'' PCP is a powerful hallucinogen known for its dissociative effects at higher doses. It is also known for stories of the bizarre and sometimes violent behavior of people under its influence.
What does PCP look like?
PCP is found in a variety of forms including crystals/powder, tablets, and liquid. It can be snorted, inhaled (smoked), injected or taken orally. PCP is commonly sold in laced cigarettes ready for smoking as well as in powder and liquid form. PCP powder is usually packaged in aluminum foil or plastic bags. Liquid PCP is usually found in small glass vials, or jars.
What does PCP do to you?
PCP is a dissociative drug. This means that it alters the user`s state of consciousness and perception of space and time.
EFFECTS INCLUDE: Increased salivation, change in body temperature regulation, sweating, increased heart rate, altered time perception, disrupted speech patterns, analgesia (decreased pain awareness) numbness, feelings of invulnerability, distorted sensory perceptions, hallucinations, unusual and unpredictable behaviour, mild to moderate dissociation, confusion, disorientation and nystagmus (rhythmic eye movement)
SYMPTOMS THAT MAKE YOU THINK: Disturbing hallucinations and/or delusions, severe anxiety, paranoia,severe dissociation, depersonalization, ataxia (loss of motor coordination), severe confusion, disorganized thinking, psychotic episodes, physical aggression nausea, vomiting, temporary amnesia severe distortion or loss of auditory/visual perception, decreased heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration seizures, hangover including dizziness, numbness and lethargy; may last 24 hours or more, coma, possible neurotoxicity.
EFFECTS INCLUDE: Increased salivation, change in body temperature regulation, sweating, increased heart rate, altered time perception, disrupted speech patterns, analgesia (decreased pain awareness) numbness, feelings of invulnerability, distorted sensory perceptions, hallucinations, unusual and unpredictable behaviour, mild to moderate dissociation, confusion, disorientation and nystagmus (rhythmic eye movement)
SYMPTOMS THAT MAKE YOU THINK: Disturbing hallucinations and/or delusions, severe anxiety, paranoia,severe dissociation, depersonalization, ataxia (loss of motor coordination), severe confusion, disorganized thinking, psychotic episodes, physical aggression nausea, vomiting, temporary amnesia severe distortion or loss of auditory/visual perception, decreased heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration seizures, hangover including dizziness, numbness and lethargy; may last 24 hours or more, coma, possible neurotoxicity.
What are the risks?
At high or frequent doses, PCP has been known to induce seizures, coma and even death.There is some evidence to indicate that, whilst not physically addictive, it can lead to psychological dependency and drug-seeking behaviour.
Long-term use has been known to lead to schizophrenia-like psychotic episodes, severe lasting memory loss, disorganised thinking, depression, weight loss, liver abnormalities and rhabomyolysis (skeletal muscle breakdown).
Long-term use has been known to lead to schizophrenia-like psychotic episodes, severe lasting memory loss, disorganised thinking, depression, weight loss, liver abnormalities and rhabomyolysis (skeletal muscle breakdown).
PCP and the Law
PCP is legally classified as a narcotic and governed by Canada's Narcotic Control Act. If tried by summary conviction, a first offender for PCP possession faces a maximum penalty of a $1,000 fine and six months imprisonment. For subsequent offences, the maximum penalty is a $2,000 fine and 12 months imprisonment. If tried by indictment, PCP possession carries a maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment.
Importing, exporting, trafficking, and possession for the purposes of trafficking are all indictable offences and carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Importing, exporting, trafficking, and possession for the purposes of trafficking are all indictable offences and carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
User's Story
Oh the Spiders! by Micheal S.
After years of cocaine, and other substance abuse I never thought something would affect me as terribly as PCP ever did. It hit me like a brick. For hours after ingestion I began to believe impossible things. People hiding in clothing baskets, bath tubs, small spaces not even mice could weasel their way into. I felt detached form everything. For moments even believing I was dead. The high itself was wonderful, minus the illusions. It was coming down that ruined the experience.
I was laying in bed when suddenly massive black spiders began crawling all over my skin. I began screaming and clawing at my body. They were more real then the other people in the room. It took the help of my roommate sitting on my chest to calm me down.
It wasn't even over then. During the whole process of 'sobering up' sharp objects where increasingly interesting. The thought of gouging out my eyes ran through my mind every few moments.
I sobered up completely later on in the day. Unless you enjoy the pain that comes after it. Not worth it.
Crazy PCP trip by Jason E.
It was a friday night I was at a friends house and we were all smoking weed and I had about three bowls before a friend arrived with some PCP. I was the only one who bought some. Later that night we were smoking more weed and I threw the PCP in my pipe with some weed and smoked it.
When I was done maybe 20 minutes later I began to yell very loud at every one for no reason then I uncontrollably began to swing my arms. Then my friend began to complain that if I did not calm down I would have to leave and at about this point I don't remember anything. after the experience was over my friends reported that I had lost my mind, they said that I was punching holes in the doors around his house which I later saw and that I was trying to rip a toilet from the ground which unbelievably I did almost succeed before I began to calm down a little bit. After it was all over I could not believe what I had done my knuckles were scabbed and very sore the next day and I never in my life had been this violent or careless and I remember that I could not control what I was doing nor could anyone else cause they had been too scared. All that I know is that I will never do PCP again for me it was too scary yet weird of an experience to enjoy.
After years of cocaine, and other substance abuse I never thought something would affect me as terribly as PCP ever did. It hit me like a brick. For hours after ingestion I began to believe impossible things. People hiding in clothing baskets, bath tubs, small spaces not even mice could weasel their way into. I felt detached form everything. For moments even believing I was dead. The high itself was wonderful, minus the illusions. It was coming down that ruined the experience.
I was laying in bed when suddenly massive black spiders began crawling all over my skin. I began screaming and clawing at my body. They were more real then the other people in the room. It took the help of my roommate sitting on my chest to calm me down.
It wasn't even over then. During the whole process of 'sobering up' sharp objects where increasingly interesting. The thought of gouging out my eyes ran through my mind every few moments.
I sobered up completely later on in the day. Unless you enjoy the pain that comes after it. Not worth it.
Crazy PCP trip by Jason E.
It was a friday night I was at a friends house and we were all smoking weed and I had about three bowls before a friend arrived with some PCP. I was the only one who bought some. Later that night we were smoking more weed and I threw the PCP in my pipe with some weed and smoked it.
When I was done maybe 20 minutes later I began to yell very loud at every one for no reason then I uncontrollably began to swing my arms. Then my friend began to complain that if I did not calm down I would have to leave and at about this point I don't remember anything. after the experience was over my friends reported that I had lost my mind, they said that I was punching holes in the doors around his house which I later saw and that I was trying to rip a toilet from the ground which unbelievably I did almost succeed before I began to calm down a little bit. After it was all over I could not believe what I had done my knuckles were scabbed and very sore the next day and I never in my life had been this violent or careless and I remember that I could not control what I was doing nor could anyone else cause they had been too scared. All that I know is that I will never do PCP again for me it was too scary yet weird of an experience to enjoy.