PCP is a drug which was originally utilized as a general anesthetic in animals during the mid 60’s, although it was originally meant for human beings. The reason for this is because users started experiencing extreme side effects soon after being administered the drug. However, even those animals to which the drug was administered began to experience similar, uninvited side effects. Individuals who used the drug for relief of pain following an operation complained of extreme anxiety and fever.
Despite these reactions, PCP is currently a common street drug recognized by a host of slang names including “rocket fuel”, “angel dust”, “wack” and “ozone”. When mixed with marijuana, it is referred to as a “killer joint”. In accordance with the National Institute on Drug Abuse, PCP is highly addictive. Regular use of the PCP drug for long periods leads to cravings and obsessive drug-hunting actions.
Additionally, emergency rooms in hospitals receive many PCP patients after reportedly using. A number of other patients are taken to hospital as a result of unsuccessful efforts to commit suicide when under the influence of the PCP. These addicts frequently become hostile and aggressive towards the people around them.
As with any other drug, PCP addiction effects vary according to the amount of the drug used regularly and the length of time the patient has being taking it. When smoked or injected, the abusers experience the high sensations in a matter of minutes. A little amount of the drug can serve as a stimulant, providing the users with the instant illusion of strength and power. The heart rate increases, while feelings of euphoria and delusion invade the user’s mind. On the other hand, even if the user takes a small quantity, they are most certainly going to experience confusion, anxiety, poor coordination and numbness, especially on the limbs.
When more and more quantities of the drug are used, delusion, paranoia, confusion and dizziness occur. The user’s mind also fails to perceive any pain at all, so it can become easy for the person to experience dangerous illnesses without any awareness of their worsening health. The person may, also, suffer from a coma and subsequent death. The risks of occurrence of a coma are increased further when the drug is used with alcohol or other depressants of the central nervous system.
Death due to the use of PCP is mainly attributed to inadvertent overdoes and suicide when the effects of the drug reach their climax. Addiction to PCP has also been blamed for some cases of heart failure, lung failure, convulsions and severe stroke. Individuals who take little quantities of PCP face consequences such as loss of memory, weight loss and extreme depression.
Because PCP addiction is harmful, users of the drug should abandon their habits gradually to avoid withdrawal effects such as persistent sweating, chills, vomiting, trembling and diarrhea. It is important to ask for professional PCP addiction treatment in case you or someone you are worried about is a regular user of the drug.
