What is phencyclidine?
Phencyclidine or PCP for short is a synthetic drug
with stimulant and hallucinogenic properties. PCP became widely used in America in the 70's as a street
drug, it is quite a rare drug in the UK. Street names for PCP include
angel dust, peace pill, rocket fuel and elephant tranquilliser.
PCP is a very powerful drug that can have disturbing
effects.
What does PCP look like?
PCP usually comes as
a white powder but can also come as a liquid or in a pill. Some users
can be unaware they have taken PCP as it is sometimes a hidden ingredient
of ecstasy or cannabis.
How is PCP taken?
PCP can be prepared for injection, sniffing, smoking
or swallowing.
What are the immediate effects of taking PCP?
PCP makes the user experience mild hallucination and dreamlike
states. Users also experience a distortion of the senses, time and space.
Depending on how much is taken the effects can start in matter of seconds
to about 30 minutes later.
What are the long-term effects of
taking PCP?
Even in low doses PCP can lead to severe psychological
trauma. Users may feel agitated, paranoid and become aggressive. Large
doses can cause heart, lung or kidney failure. PCP is stored in the
body's fat cells and therefore can never be completely eliminated. So
if you regularly take any kind of exercise the drug can be stirred up
and your bad trip can come back with nasty flashbacks.
What class drug is PCP?
PCP is a class A drug, the same class as cocaine,
meaning that if caught supplying there is a maximum penalty of life
imprisonment. The maximum penalty for possession is 7 years in prison
and a fine.
Related topics
Drug Tests
The Detox Handbook
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