Phencyclidine (PCP)

Similar term(s): angel dust, crystal, super week, rocket fuel, goon.

This drug is considered a hallucinogen but it can also relieve pain or act as a stimulant.

PCP is available in a number of forms. It can be a pure, white crystal-like powder, a tablet or a capsule. It can be swallowed, smoked, sniffed, or injected. PCP is sometimes sprinkled on marijuana or parsley and smoked.

Effects begin within 5 minutes and peak at about 30 minutes. At first, the user feels euphoria, body warmth, and tingling, floating sensations, and a feeling of calm isolation. Auditory and visual hallucinations may appear, as well as altered body image, distorted perceptions of space and time, delusions, and disorganization of thought.

Accompanying symptoms include hypertension, rapid involuntary movement of the eyes, loss of muscular coordination, slurred speech, grimacing, profuse sweating, overactive reflexes, diminished responsiveness to pain, muscle rigidity, abnormally high body temperature, abnormally acute hearing, and seizures.

Effects usually last for 4-6 hours, although residual effects may take several days or longer to clear. During the immediate recovery period there may be self-destructive or violent behaviour.

Source: GreenFacts, based on WHO Lexicon of alcohol and drug terms 

Effects of prolonged use include short- or long-term disturbed mental state in which a person experiences hallucinations, delusions, personality changes and loss of contact with reality. They also include flashbacks or re-experiencing of drug effects, long after drug use.

Source: GreenFacts Digest on Psychoactive Drugs (WHO)

Hallucinogen

GreenFacts Summary on Psychoactive Drugs Tobacco, Alcohol, and Illicit Substances:

• 3.3 How do different psychoactive drugs act in the brain?

Español: Fenciclidina (PCP)
Français: Phencyclidine (PCP)
Nederlands: PCP (Fencyclidine)

Psychoactive Drugs