PCP Addiction and Recovery Facts

Written by Marisa Crane, B.S. Edited by Dan Wagener, M.A. | last updated 7 December 2018

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Phencyclidine, or PCP, was originally created as an anesthetic. But human use was discontinued due to post-operative delusions and agitation. ¹ Although PCP is legal for use in animals, it is rarely used in veterinary settings. ²

Today, people abuse PCP for its psychoactive and hallucinogenic effects.

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What Is PCP?

PCP is a dissociative anesthetic that was developed in the 1950s for surgical purposes. But it began to be sold on the streets in the 1960s, ³ and it is now illegal for use in humans. It is a Schedule II controlled substance, ⁴ which means that it has a high potential for abuse and dependence.

Pure PCP is a white, crystal-like powder. On the streets, it may have a tan or brown color or be sold as a clear, yellowish liquid in vanilla extract bottles. ^{4, 2}

PCP causes hallucinations and feelings of detachment in those who abuse it.

Street Names

Some common street names for PCP include: ⁴

Street names may change with time and vary according to geographic location.

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Methods of Use

PCP can be snorted, injected, smoked, or taken orally.

PCP is available in a number of different forms, including: ⁵

• Powder.
• Liquid.
• Capsule or tablet.
• Crystal.

PCP can be snorted, injected, smoked, or taken orally in capsule or tablet form. ⁴ It can also be mixed in a cigarette with dried plant materials such as marijuana, tobacco, oregano, mint, or parsley. ⁵ Sometimes pills sold as Ecstasy or MDMA may have PCP in them as well. ⁵

Additional forms of use include eye drops or absorption through the skin. ⁴

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PCP Effects

PCP can produce a variety of effects in users, including psychotic symptoms. The effects of PCP are dose-dependent, which means that they will change and/or intensify as the dose increases, and may also differ depending on the route of administration.

In general, the effects of PCP will be experienced within 1-5 minutes if the drug is smoked or injected and within about 30 minutes if it is snorted or orally ingested. ⁴ Intoxication can last from 4-6 hours, and it may take 24 hours for the effects to completely wear off. ⁴

Short-Term Effects

Smoking or injecting PCP will result in the most rapid onset of short-term effects. ⁴

The range of short-term effects includes: ⁴

Side Effects

In addition to short-term effects, PCP can produce many adverse or unpleasant effects, such as: ⁴

Long-Term Effects

Chronic PCP users can experience several long-term effects, which can last for years. ⁶ These potential complications include: ^{4, 6}

Other problems that can arise from long-term substance abuse include:

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Signs and Symptoms of PCP Addiction

A PCP addiction (diagnosed as phencyclidine use disorder) is characterized by problematic PCP use that leads to impairment in the user’s life. ³

The signs and symptoms include: ³

A diagnosis of a PCP addiction may be made after an individual displays at least 2 of the above symptoms within a 1-year period. ³

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Overdose Symptoms

A user can overdose on PCP if he or she takes a high dose of the drug. An overdose can result in psychosis, coma, or death if unrecognized and untreated. ⁷ Other possible consequences involve self-injury and violent behavior, such as homicide and assaults.

Common signs of a PCP overdose include: ⁷

• Psychosis, or a loss of contact with reality.
• Derealization.
• Coma.
• Trance-like state (lack of reacting, moving, or talking).
• Convulsions.
• Uncontrolled eye movements.

Someone who has overdosed on PCP is a danger to both himself or herself and others in close proximity. ⁷ If you suspect someone has overdosed on PCP, do not approach the user if he or she is agitated or violent. ⁷ Keep a safe distance and call 911 immediately. When you call 911, have the following information ready, if possible: ⁷

• Amount of PCP used.
• Time it was used.
• Person’s age, weight, and current condition.

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PCP Statistics

• Emergency department visits involving PCP increased over 400% between 2005 and 2011. ⁸
• 45% of emergency department visits in 2011 involved 25- to 34-year-olds. ⁸
• In 2011, nearly half of PCP-related emergency department visits involved other illegal substances. ⁸
• About 0.2% of people ages 12 to 17 have reported using PCP at least once. ⁹
• Almost 1% of people ages 18 to 25 have reported using PCP at some point in their lives. ⁹
• Nearly 3% of people ages 26 or older have reported using PCP during their lifetime. ⁹

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Find Treatment for PCP Addiction

If you or someone you know is suffering from an addiction to PCP, call our helpline at 1-888-319-2606 Who Answers? to speak to a treatment support specialist about recovery options.

Sources

[1]. National Drug Intelligence Center. (2003). PCP Fast Facts.

[2]. University of Maryland Center for Substance Abuse Research. Phencyclidine (PCP).

[3]. American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5^th ed.) Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.

[4]. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (n.d.). Phencyclidine (PCP).

[5]. Drug Enforcement Administration. (2013). Phencyclidine.

[6]. National Institute on Drug Abuse (2015). What Are the Effects of Common Dissociative Drugs on the Brain and Body?

[7]. Heller, J.L. (2015).Phencyclidine overdose. National Library of Medicine.

[8]. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2013). Emergency Department Visits Involving Phencyclidine (PCP).

[9]. National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2014). Hallucinogens.