Phencyclidine is another common drug used today. Some of the street names you may have heard are: angel dust, dust, super weed, killer weed, PCP, and hog.
In some respects, PCP acts like a hallucinogen; and, it is frequently classed as a hallucinogen in medical texts and scientific/ research reports. In other respects it acts like a stimulant, and still in other respects it is similar to depressants.
The formal chemical name for this drug is Phenyl Cyclohexyl Piperidine, from which the initials PCP are derived. "Phencyclidine" is simply a contracted form of the actual chemical name.
| Effects of PCP From Low Doses: | Effects of PCP From High Doses: |
| act without thinking | increased heart rate |
| hallucinations | increased blood pressure |
| euphoria | flushing |
| feeling of emptiness | sweating |
| numbness | dizziness |
| aggressive | numbness |
| belligerent | a stupor or daze that can last several days |
| agitated | |
| impulsive |
Many PCP users ingest their drug by smoking, however, PCP can be swallowed, smoked, sniffed, snorted, or injected. PCP can be applied in either liquid or powder form to a variety of vegetable or leafy substances, such as mint leaves, parsley, oregano, tobacco, or marijuana. When applied to marijuana the street name for this mixture is "killer weed" or "super weed". The substances then can be smoked in a pipe or cigarette. Because PCP smoke is very hot and can irritate the mouth and tongue, many users prefer to use mint leaves and similar material to cool the smoke.
As with many drugs, regular users of PCP may have developed a tolerance to the drug that masks some of the observable signs of PCP's effects. When smoked or injected, PCP's effects generally last 4-6 hours, but they can last longer. PCP can also enter the body by absorption through the skin.
One possible result of PCP overdose is bizarre, violent
and self-destructivce behavior. PCP can also produce extreme physical as
well as psychological distress. PCP can cause a deep coma, lasting up to
12 hours, seizures and convulsions, respiratory depression, and possible
cardiac problems.
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