What is pcp used for

The drug may increase aggressive behavior and interfere with perception, however, so people using it may think that they can punch through steel. PCP can be eaten, snorted, injected, or smoked. The effects of the drug can be felt within two to five minutes if it is smoked the drug is usually applied to a leafy material, such as mint, parsley, oregano, or marijuana. Soon after PCP was introduced as a street drug in the s, it gained a reputation for causing bad reactions. People who misuse PCP can become violent or suicidal while taking the drug.

PCP can cause hallucinogenic effects, which can continue for day or weeks and trigger psychotic symptoms similar to schizophrenia. PCP was developed in the s as an intravenous anesthetic and marketed under the brand name Sernyl. Its use was discontinued in after patients who were given the drug experienced psychotic reactions, but the drug remained widely used in veterinary medicine as an animal tranquilizer.

PCP is now mostly manufactured illegally. Some PCP is manufactured legally for research purposes. Since nearly all PCP production is illegal, there is no standard for purity or dosage. As a result, there is no way to know how much is being taken, making its use particularly dangerous. PCP can have different effects on different people.

The way the drug is taken and the amount used can also change the effects of PCP. Depending upon the dosage, PCP can have the following effects:. PCP does not turn a person into a cannibal or casual killer, unless they were already prone to these violent behaviors. It does cause hallucinogenic effects, which can continue for day or weeks and trigger psychotic symptoms similar to schizophrenia. Due to the possible sedative effects of PCP, if the drug is taken with other depressants, such as alcohol or benzodiazepines, it can cause a coma.

If someone you care about becomes unconscious and unresponsive to verbal or physical attempts to wake them, call immediately and tell them exactly what was taken. In addition to watching out for the drug itself which may be in the form of a "fry," or cigarette or joint dipped in PCP and any drug paraphernalia such as rolling papers or pipes , take note of any changes in physical appearance and behavior. These could include new sleeping and eating habits, changes in friends, or loss of interest in sports and other social activities.

PCP is classified as a Schedule II substance, which means it has a "high probability" for misuse as well as the possibility for physical and psychological dependence. What's more, people who use PCP can build a tolerance for the drug, meaning that over time, they need more and more of the drug to experience the same "high. Depending on the drug test, PCP can be detected for a few days or a few months. Factors including metabolism, body mass, age, hydration level, and frequency of use play a role.

Estimates for PCP drug test timetables include the following:. Repeated use of PCP can lead to craving and compulsive PCP-seeking behavior, despite severe adverse consequences, which by definition, means that it is an addictive substance. People who suddenly stop using PCP can experience physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms, which are not life-threatening but may require the attention of a trained medical professional.

For people with a history of chronic, long-term use, withdrawal symptoms include flashbacks, hallucinations, memory loss, difficulties with speech and thinking, weight loss, depression, and other mood disorders that can persist for up to a year after quitting the drug. People who are experiencing a " bad trip " while on PCP are usually placed in a quiet area or room with little sensory stimulation.

Sometimes the person is given benzodiazepines to control seizures or extremely agitated behavior. While there is no known treatment for PCP addiction specifically, residential treatment and proven therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy CBT can help people better understand their addiction and any co-occurring mental illnesses.

You might even hear voices that are not there. As a result, you may act strangely or become aggressive and violent. PCP's other harmful effects include: It can increase heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, and body temperature. At high doses, PCP can have an opposite and dangerous effect on these functions.

Because of the pain-killing analgesic properties of PCP, if you get seriously injured, you might not feel pain. Using PCP for a long time can cause memory loss, thinking problems, and problems talking clearly, such as slurring words or stuttering. Mood problems, such as depression or anxiety can develop. This can lead to suicide attempts.

A very large dose, usually from taking PCP by mouth, may cause kidney failure, heart arrhythmias, muscle rigidity, seizures, or death. PCP can be Addictive. These are called withdrawal symptoms, and may include: Feeling fear, unease, and worry anxiety Feeling stirred up, excited, tense, confused, or irritable agitation , having hallucinations Physical reactions may include muscle breakdown or twitching, weight loss, increased body temperature, or seizures.

Treatment Options. Your Ongoing Recovery. As you recover, focus on the following to help prevent relapse: Keep going to your treatment sessions. Find new activities and goals to replace the ones that involved your PCP use. Spend more time with family and friends with whom you lost touch while you were using. Consider not seeing friends who are still using PCP.

Exercise and eat healthy foods. Taking care of your body helps it heal from the harmful effects of PCP. You will feel better, too. Avoid triggers. These can be people you used PCP with. Triggers can also be places, things, or emotions that can make you want to use it again. Resources that may help you on your road to recovery include: Partnership for drug-Free Kids -- drugfree.

When to Call the Doctor. Alternative Names. Related MedlinePlus Health Topics. Club Drugs. 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. However, because the drug is made illegally in uncontrolled conditions, there is no way of knowing how much is being taken, or what the effect will be.

An individual may use PCP because it produces euphoria, psychedelic effects, and a sense of calm. However, they may experience effects that they do not want. Soon after taking a low dose, there may be a rise in blood pressure , body temperature, and heart rate.

PCP can cause a person to experience :. Other people may notice that the user is showing :. Poor judgment and reasoning skills, psychosis, paranoia, and self-injurious or violent action may occur in those already prone to these behaviors.

The person may develop a type of psychosis similar to that seen in schizophrenia. A sense of super strength and invulnerability, combined with the inability to feel pain and poor judgment, can lead to serious injury. Ingesting PCP with other central nervous system CNS depressants, such as alcohol or prescription tranquilizers, can lead to coma. Severe PCP poisoning can also occur if an individual, when attempting to conceal the drug from authorities, mistakenly ingests large amounts due to body stuffing or packing.

The effects can be hard to predict, because production and sale are illegal and therefore not controlled. Long-term effects include :.

These can last for up to a year. Some people may experience flashbacks and hallucinations for a long time after using PCP. This is known as hallucinogen-induced persisting perceptual disorder HPPD. Addiction can also develop, as a person builds up a tolerance to the drug. Addiction and related mental health problems make it hard to function socially, financially, and professionally. This can lead to further complications. Discontinuing PCP suddenly can produce withdrawal symptoms.

Anyone seeking recovery from PCP use will need medical supervision and possibly hospitalization. While distressing, withdrawal from PCP is not life threatening. Recovery takes time, however, as the person will need support as they learn the skills necessary for a drug-free life.

Those with persistent behavioral problems or distressing psychological effects may need psychiatric evaluation and treatment for mental health problems. The behavior of a person using PCP can be dangerous to themselves and to others.