PCP
An anaesthetic that can stop people feeling pain, but also cause hallucinations
Also called:
- Angel dust
- Hog
- Peace pills
- Phencyclidine
What does it look like?
PCP can be an oil, liquid, powder, crystal or pill. The colour depends on what form the PCP is in and how pure it is.
PCP oil is yellow, pure PCP powder and crystals can range from white to light brown.
PCP can be sniffed, swallowed or injected.
PCP can also be smoked if it is sprayed onto something that you can smoke, like tobacco, or because a cigarette has been dipped into liquid PCP (this method is sometimes referred to as 'embalming fluid').
No method makes using PCP safe, but injecting, and sharing the equipment used for injecting, is particularly risky. You might overdose or catch a virus such as HIV or hepatitis C. There is also the risk that veins may be damaged and that an abscess or blood clot may develop.
How does it make you feel?
PCP is an anaesthetic and painkiller, which means that it can produce dreamlike and ‘floaty’ or numb feelings.
PCP can change your mood and the way you feel in ways you don’t expect.
It has a number of effects:
- It can change how you see reality. You can have hallucinations and see and hear things that aren’t there.
- The way you experience time may change, time may speed up or slow down.
- It might make you feel really happy and upbeat.
- It might make you feel very down, panicky and paranoid.
- You may believe things that aren’t true.
- Some people become more aggressive and violent.
How does it make people behave?
Taking PCP can lead to a severe psychotic state. This is a mental condition that stops you from thinking clearly, telling the difference between reality and your imagination, and acting in a normal way. These states are temporary.
How long the effects last and the drug stays in your system depends on how much you’ve taken, your size and what other drugs you may have also taken.
Physical health risks
PCP is an anaesthetic and was designed to stop people feeling pain during operations.
The physical health risks include:
- A loss of coordination and control.
- An increase in body temperature.
- Feeling detached from reality.
- Convulsions – when your body shakes violently without you meaning it to.
- Leading users to hurt themselves: some users have been known to cut themselves or commit suicide.
- Some, who are violent towards others, may do more harm because they feel less pain. And because it’s a painkiller you can’t tell as easily when you’re hurt and you may not get medical help when you need it.
- PCP can lead to convulsions, and cause your breathing to become shallow and slow, or even stop your lungs from working completely – which can result in death.
Mental health risks
Taking PCP can lead to a severe psychotic state. This is a mental condition that stops you from thinking clearly, telling the difference between reality and your imagination, and acting in a normal way. These states are temporary.
Long term use of PCP has been reported to cause memory and cognitive problems, poor appetite and weight loss, depression, and a prolonged paranoid state of mind.
PCP can cause anxiety and agitation.
What is PCP cut with?
Is it dangerous to mix with other drugs?
Mixing drugs is always risky but some mixtures are more dangerous than others.
What happens if I mix PCP and
Can you get addicted?
Yes, you can become addicted to PCP. This means that regular users feel the need to keep taking PCP, in spite of the risks.
Regular users can also develop tolerance to PCP, which means they need to take increasing amounts to get the same effects.
Class: A
This is a Class A drug, which means it's illegal to have for yourself, give away or sell.
Possession can get you up to 7 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.
Supplying someone else, even your friends, can get you life in prison, an unlimited fine or both.
Like drink-driving, driving when high is dangerous and illegal. If you’re caught driving under the influence, you may receive a heavy fine, driving ban, or prison sentence.
If the police catch people supplying illegal drugs in a home, club, bar or hostel, they can potentially prosecute the landlord, club owner or any other person concerned in the management of the premises.
Was this information useful?