PCP

A recent article in DARSYS, the Drug Abuse Recognition Journal, outlined the below recent upswing in the use of PCP (Phencyclidine). A caller described contact with an individual who appeared drunk on alcohol, but no alcohol was present in the individual’s system. The individual had a vacant stare and a face which appeared frozen. Communication with the individual was all but impossible.

The individual was actually under the influence of PCP. This drug had not been seen in the community for nearly 10 years. Gangs have started to produce and sell the drug again and it is being seen here in the Chicago area, as well as in other large cities. “A 1950s general surgical anesthetic, PCP acts as a central nervous system dissociative anesthetic. PCP intoxication cuts the body's nervous system into halves. Neither half communicates with the other. As a result, users typically present with symptoms of severe physical and cognitive impairment. Many are unable to walk or talk. Most can't remember anything that has happened while high. Yet others can become violent and lash out.”

“Police history books are full of fateful fights involving PCP suspects. Called ‘angel dust’, PCP's anesthetic characteristics blunt a user's sense of pain and discomfort, so normal police pain control applications don't work. ‘Dusters’ are perhaps the most dangerous of all drug users that police face on the streets today, but not all PCP users act out violently. PCP has a tendency to exacerbate violent tendencies in those people who are so disposed.”

PCP intoxication causes many users to become overheated and to perspire. In an effort to cool off, PCP users will discard their clothing. In some instances, PCP users have even jumped into pools to cool off. Police blotters are full of incidents where a PCP user has drowned in a backyard pool. Thinking that down is up and up is down, users will claw their way to the bottom of a pool in a frantic effort to get to what they think is the surface.

PCP is an unpredictable drug on just about all counts. Should readers encounter someone who fits the description of PCP intoxication, police should be called. Until police arrive, keep calm, and keep noise and physical distractions to a minimum. Noise and other stimulus may serve a catalyst for an outburst.

As a dissociative anesthetic, PCP has many of the same effects as LSD, but can be more dangerous. The use of PCP as an anesthetic was stopped due to its severe side-effects, including violent behavior, seizures and coma. PCP can have numerous effects: hallucinogenic, stimulant, depressant and anesthetic all at the same time. The most common method of use is by dipping a cigarette or marijuana joint into its liquid form. These are known as Wet Sticks, Amp, Wet, Sherm and Happy Sticks. Street names for PCP alone include: Angel Dust, Embalming Fluid, Killer Weed, Rocket Fuel, Supergrass, Boat, Tic Tac, Zoom and Shermans.