According to the Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health (2015), in their lifetime: 6.3 million persons (2.4%) aged 12 or older have used PCP. PCP goes by names such as drug rocket fuel, angel dust, Peter Pan, Goon Dust, Animal Tranquilizer, Wack etc. When it is dipped in marijuana or rolled onto cigarettes it is called other notable names for it is Lilly, Fry, or Wet. The chance of any of the names propping up among those aged 25 or above is quite high. 

PCP Statistics: A cause of concern 

PCP was developed in the 1950s as an anesthetic for humans, but because of the adverse impact on humans its use was discontinued soon. Today, it is counted as one of the most dangerous and even fatal life-threatening drugs that can cause the user to experience some extremely painful conditions. In the last decade, the largest number of emergency visits to the hospital could be attributed to this drug. That could have translated into  80,000 odd users requiring immediate medical attention for overdose.

The drug has the ability to attract youngsters like magnets due to its highly addictive nature. According to a National Household Survey on Drug Abuse survey, 225,000 individuals aged 12 to 17 and 777,000 individuals aged 18 to 25 used the drug at least once. Its ability to impact the mind and cause hallucinations make the drug as deadly as meth or PVP – that have been associated with instances of violence. 

Causes and Risk factors: Young and females more vulnerable 

When it comes to this drug, the demography that is most vulnerable are the young and females in fact users have been as young as 12. Others who constitute a high-risk category include those with a past history of addiction or with a close family member with a history of substance abuse. 

Other causes of drug addiction include, lack of education, and family history of a serious mental health condition like schizophrenia or BPD. We cannot discount the influence of peers. That is another high-risk factor. In school or college, it is the kind of company that one keeps that is responsible for getting involved with PCP in the first place. Women and youngsters because of their physiology are more likely to be highly impacted. 

PCP Abuse: Watch out for these signs and symptoms 

When it comes to PCP abuse, there are certain signs and symptoms that indicate PCP addiction.  These signs could be behavioral, physical, cognitive, and psychosocial. All of which could indicate the need for a professional treatment. 

Behavioral damages :The surest sign of addiction is when your life starts revolving around the drug. You forget your friends, family and career. Instead from the time you wake up to the time you go to bed, there is only one consistent worry – how to procure the drug? A person who is thus addicted is a lost case. They will resort to every single means to get the drug – stealing, lying from family, prostitution, etc. The signs of addiction are not hard to detect. 

Physical and psychosocial changes: The person transforms into an altogether different person. They are moody, rude, abrasive, etc. Prolonged addiction to PCP results in memory loss, speech impediments, racing thoughts, anxiety and depression. You can also decipher that the person is in trouble when they lose weight as they lose their appetite. Bodily damage is another sign of addiction as hardened drug users inject drugs continually into their veins. Many of these problems could persist even after someone stops using PCP 

Cognitive changes: For those who started the drug young and are abusing it for long, could suffer from amnesia, increased paranoia and even severe instances of delusions or hallucinations. These could be the cause of accidental death or suicide. 

Effect of PCP Addiction: From dissociation to violent behavior 

The physical and psychological impact of PCP can be both unprecedented and dangerous. Some of the physical side effects of the drug include hypertension. Prolonged use could have a damaging impact on the growth hormones in youngsters. Here are the four reasons why PCP is among the deadliest drugs on the streets of America today:.

Floating in space: As a mind-altering drug, PCP impacts the Central Nervous System. It alters the mood, behavior, and user’s worldview as it blocks transmitters and chemicals associated with sound mental health. Some individuals experience an other-worldy feeling – which is as if they have been ripped from their bodies and are floating in space. 

Loss of inhibitions: Users lose their inhibitions once the drug kicks in and develop superhuman strength and exceptionally clear thinking – that’s why another name of PCP (apart from the demonic Angel Dust) is also Goon Dust and Rocket Fuel. As it heightens the mood, it leads the user to an exhilarated state of being equivalent to Euphoria or Ecstasy which feels good for some time until the depression and the anxiety settles in. 

Comorbid conditions : Persisting with PCP addiction:

Altered state of mind: Schizophrenia-type symptoms such as delusions, paranoia, or grandeur are also common side effects of the drug. Some users have even resorted to violence under the impact of the drug and caused bodily harm to others. So, if there is someone who is in distress and exhibits the above mentioned symptoms, it is essential that they are rushed to the nearest health center or a first responder is called immediately. 

Suicides and deaths: Accidental deaths, suicides, and other instances of bodily harm to self and others though rare cannot be ruled out if use of Angel Dust or PCP is disproportionately high.   

Substance abuse: Considering its mind-altering and hallucinogenic properties, even a single use of PCP is deadly. Ingesting the drug with alcohol, marijuana or other forms of addictive substances could be extremely dangerous and lead to death or cases of violent behavior and severe depression.  

IOP the only way of dealing with addiction and overdosing:   

The drug impacts the very centers of the brain that are responsible for cognitive development in young adults. Growth is impaired and sometimes the damage could last for years. Therefore we advocate against any kind of substance abuse, not just PCP. Once addiction sets in there is no way out other than long intensive rehabilitation and recovery programs for substance abuse treatment.

You would know that someone has overdosed if they are behaving in an unpredictable manner. Remember a PCP overdosing can be fatal both for the person and the society. Seizure, tachycardia and high BP are some of the typical symptoms of PCP overdose. Also the person would feel no pain, which could be reflected in their ability to withstand any kind of painful sensation. They could also lose the control of their muscles and be prone to seizures. Therefore call 911 or emergency for any such sign of overdosing.  

Withdrawal and Recovery: A fight from within.

“Recovery is not a race. You don’t have to feel guilty if it takes you longer than you thought it would.”

The most painful aspect of PCP recovery is the withdrawal phase. Withdrawal is associated with anxiety, depression, tremors and trembling, and either poor or excessive appetites. This could be extremely distressful, one could feel extremely vulnerable and have the urge to do the drug and therefore it is necessary to be under supervised care.  

Every kind of addiction needs to be treated with care, especially ones that are dangerous as PCP addiction. But what is important foremost is the willingness to submit to the rigors of treatment and accept that it will not be an easy journey. Only then can you be on the road to recovery. In this blog we address the importance of identifying phencyclidine (PCP) addiction quickly and enabling recovery with rehab, medication, and supervised care.  

Recovery is difficult without seeking help from trained doctors and therapists. Also, relapse is common if one does not submit to a comprehensive program for treatment and recovery. One must understand that  kind of  addiction recovery from PCP addiction requires a combination of medication for dealing with withdrawal pangs and for building strength,  self-help kits, and continued stay in rehab or rehabilitation centers. 

Conclusion: Call if you need help right away

Online help in this case would not be enough as you would require to undergo the entire course. Hence, inpatient drug rehabs that combine therapy, medication treatment and self-help would be the best option for you.   

So, if there is someone in need of help with addiction treatment, reach out to rehabsupport.com and we will connect you with our partner treatment centers that is best suitable for your need. You can call us on 949.325.7994