Phencyclidine

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Hallucinogen

Phencyclidine was developed as an anaesthetic – a drug used in an operation and other procedures to temporally stop a patient from feeling pain. Doctors stopped using it because it can cause hallucinationswhere someone sees, hears, smells, tastes or feels things that don't exist outside of their mind, make you feel really confused, and affect your mood ¹.

Phencyclidine can –

• Make you feel numb and like they are not part of reality.
• Cause changes to the way you see things. This might include seeing things that aren’t really there (hallucinationswhere someone sees, hears, smells, tastes or feels things that don't exist outside of their mind) and changes in how you experience time.
• Change you’re mood in ways you don’t expect. It might make you feel really happy and upbeat but can also cause you to feel very down, panicky and paranoid. You may believe things that aren’t true. Some people become more aggressive and violent.
• When you take any drug you aren’t always in control of your own actions. People who have taken phencyclidine have died from the injuries they have caused themselves and from hyperthermiaThis is a condition in which the body's temperature is higher than normal More (getting very hot). Clotting problems with your blood, muscle breakdown and kidney failure have also been reported.
• Combining an anaesthetic drug like phencyclidine with depressant drugs like alcohol is also dangerous ¹.

Phencyclidine can be an oil, liquid, powder, crystal or pill. The colour depends on what form the Phencyclidine is in and how pure it is. Phencyclidine oil is yellow, pure Phencyclidine powder and crystals can range from white to light brown ¹.

Phencyclidine is a white crystalline powder that is readily soluble in water or alcohol. It has a distinctive bitter chemical taste ².

This drug is well known in the USA but is rarely seen in Britain. It may be imported, probably from the USA or diverted from domestic veterinary supplies ³.

According to the 2014 National Survey of Drug Use and Health, an estimated 1.2 million people aged 12 and older (0.4% of the US population) were current users of hallucinogens, with PCP having the lowest rate of use.

Based on Emergency Department data, the majority of those seeking PCP-related treatment are males 25 – 34 years of age ⁴.

According to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the number of past year initiates of PCP aged 12 or older decreased from 123,000 in 2002 to 45,000 in 2009 and 2010. PCP is grouped into the hallucinogens group in the NSDUH, which also include LSD, peyote, mescaline, psilocybin mushrooms, and ecstasy (MDMASee Ecstasy More). In the survey, hallucinogens were used in the past month by 1.2 million persons (0.5%) aged 12 or older in 2010, including the 45,000 who had used PCP. These hallucinogen estimates were similar to estimates in 2009.

Since 1975, Monitoring the Future Study (MTF) researchers have annually surveyed almost 17,000 high school seniors nationwide to determine trends in drug use and to measure attitudes and beliefs about drug abuse. The 2010 Monitoring the Future Study (MTF) shows that use of PCP by high school seniors has increased 0.1% since 2001, from 1.7% to 1.8%. In 2010, however, 1.0% of seniors used PCP at least once in the past year, which held steady from 2009. Past month use among seniors increased from 0.5% in 2009 to 0.8% in 2010. The percentage of high school seniors saying it would be “fairly easy” or “very easy” to get PCP in 2010 was 8%, compared to 16% when asked the same question in 2000 ⁵.

• genetic – those who have a first-degree relative who abuses drugs are more likely to abuse drugs than others without a similar family history. While there is only limited research related to hallucinogens, there is some support suggesting that those with a first-degree relative who used hallucinogens is at greater risk for abusing hallucinogens.
• brain chemistry – Phencyclidine, like all drugs of addiction, affects the brain’s reward centre. Under normal circumstances the brain responds to situations that are pleasurable by releasing the dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for communication within the brain. Phencyclidine among other drugs, interferes with the communication process, causing the neurons in the brain to flood the brain with dopamine. The increased amount and length of dopamine flooding is what causes the high associated with taking Phencyclidine.
• brain chemical imbalances – sometimes individuals have certain chemical imbalances with the brain. Some individuals have chemical imbalances that lead to lower levels of pleasure or increased negative mood states. When individuals come into contact with a substance that improves these states and creates pleasure it is very difficult to decide to return to the former state.
• environmental – while it is clear that there is a genetic predisposition to developing drug-related disorders including Phencyclidine abuse, this does not mean that everyone with the predisposition will develop such a disorder. Research shows that life stressors and other environmental influences account for about 50% of the risk that someone with such a predisposition will go on to develop the disorder ⁶.

Phencyclidine is principally thought to act as an NMDA receptor antagonist. NMDA receptorsnerve endings that sense changes in the body More allow for electrical signals to pass between neurons in the brain and spinal column; for the signals to pass, the receptor must be open. Dissociatives close the NMDA receptorsnerve endings that sense changes in the body More by blocking them. This disconnection of neurons leads to loss of feeling, difficulty moving, and eventually an almost identical equivalent of the notorious ‘k-hole’.

Phencyclidine also acts as a dopamine-reuptake inhibitor and a serotonin reuptake inhibitor with alleged µ-opioid affinity and typical dissociative effects which vary depending on dose. This provides an explanation for its manic, euphoric and often stimulating properties ⁷.

Phencyclidine can be sniffed, swallowed or injected.

Phencyclidine 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 Phencyclidine (this method is sometimes referred to as ’embalming fluid’).

No method makes using Phencyclidine 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 ¹.

Phencyclidine turns up on the illicit drug market in a variety of tablets, capsules and coloured powders. Phencyclidine can be snorted, smoked, injected or swallowed and is most commonly sold as a powder or liquid and applied to a leafy material such as mint, parsley, oregano, tobacco, or marijuana when used for smoking ².

Tablets can be taken orally, powder can be snorted up the nose, sprinkled on tobacco or marijuana and smoked, or injected. Or a cigarette or jointa marijuana cigarette. More can be dipped in to liquid Phencyclidine then smoked ³.

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 ⁹.

Users continue the use of Phencyclidine despite the knowledge of the severe adverse consequences it has on their health and other areas of their life, and the lives of those closest to them ¹⁰. A person addicted to Phencyclidine may exhibit the following signs –

• loss of interest in usual activities,
• trouble in personal relationships,
• difficulties at work or school,
• financial problems,
• legal problems,
• poor hygiene,
• health issues,
• unable to stop the use of Phencyclidine without experiencing symptoms of withdrawal ¹⁰.

Phencyclidine is an anaesthetic and painkiller, which means that it can produce dreamlike and ‘floaty’ or numb feelings ¹. It has a number of other effects –

• Phencyclidine can change how you see reality. You can have hallucinationswhere someone sees, hears, smells, tastes or feels things that don't exist outside of their mind and the way you experience time may also change; time may speed up or slow down.
• It can change your mood and the way you feel in ways you don’t expect. It might make you feel really happy and upbeat but can also cause you to feel very down, panicky and paranoid. You may believe things that aren’t true. Some people become more aggressive and violent.
• Taking Phencyclidine can lead to a severe psychoticthis is a mental state when you see or hear things which aren't there and have delusions More state which 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 ¹.

Low to moderate amounts (1 – 5 mg), PCP users experience –

• feelings of detachment,
• slurred speech,
• numbness,
• loss of coordination, coupled with a sense of strength and invulnerability ¹¹.

In higher doses, PCP produces –

• hallucinationswhere someone sees, hears, smells, tastes or feels things that don't exist outside of their mind,
• catatonic posturing ¹¹.

Phencyclidine is an anaesthetic and was designed to stop people feeling pain during operations. But it can a loss of coordination and control. It can also –

• increase your body temperature,
• make you feel detached from reality,
• cause convulsionswhen your body shakes violently without you meaning it to,
• lead to a severe psychoticthis is a mental state when you see or hear things which aren't there and have delusions More state which 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,
• lead you to hurt yourselves; 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,
• injecting Phencyclidine can damage your veins and can cause serious problems such as abscessesswollen areas of tissue that are full of pus More and blood clots. Sharing injecting equipment, including needles and syringes, risks infection with hepatitis C and B viruses and HIV,
• it can cause your breathing to become shallow and slow or even stop your lungs from working if you take a lot,
• it can cause anxiety and agitation,
• it can cause death if a lot is taken and this results in hyperthermiaThis is a condition in which the body's temperature is higher than normal More, convulsionswhen your body shakes violently without you meaning it to and respiratory depressionslowing the drive and effectiveness of breathing More,
• using Phencyclidine and alcohol together can increase the loss of coordination/control and make your breathing even more shallow and slow ¹.

Long term use of Phencyclidine has been reported to cause memory and cognitive problems, poor appetite and weight loss, depression, and a prolonged paranoid state of mind ¹.

As with any drug you can never be sure what you are taking and how you will react to it. In the past Phencyclidine has been found to be ‘cut’ or mixed with other substances, like un-reacted chemicals and cocaine and ecstasy ¹.

Although many drugs are safe on their own, they can become dangerous and even life-threatening when combined with other substances. The list below contains some common potentially dangerous combinations, but may not include all of them. Certain combinations may be safe in low doses of each but still increase the potential risk of death. Independent research should always be done to ensure that a combination of two or more substances is safe before consumption ⁷.

• Psychedelics – This combination is not advised because Phencyclidine has been reported to cause extreme psychological disturbances such as psychosis and mania at a significantly higher rate than other dissociatives ¹⁴, ¹⁵.
• Stimulants – This combination is not advised due to the risk of psychosis or mania ¹⁴, ¹⁵.
• Depressants – This combination potentiates the muscle relaxation, sedationthe state of being relaxed or sleepy because of a drug More and amnesiainability to remember caused by one another and can lead to unexpected loss of consciousness at high doses. There is also an increased risk of vomiting during unconsciousness and death from the resulting suffocation. If this occurs, users should attempt to fall asleep in the recovery position or have a friend move them into it. Examples include 1,4-butanediol, 2-methyl-2-butanol, benzodiazepines, GHB/GBL, and opioids ⁷.

Withdrawal from Phencyclidine is a very dangerous process that should only be performed under the careful supervision of trained medical professionals ⁶. Withdrawal symptoms of Phencyclidine include the following –

• decreased reflexes,
• weight loss,
• memory loss,
• confusiontrouble focusing, slow or disorganised thinking, poor short-term memory, unsure of time or place, or having difficulty following a conversation,
• anxiety,
• speech difficulties,
• depression,
• lack of impulse control,
• coma,
• suicide,
• death ⁶.

Phencyclidine is detectable in the system of the user for up to 3 months, depending on the type of test being administered, the frequency and amount of use, and the physical traits of the user. Physical traits can be body fat content, weight and height of the user, age of the user, physical condition of the user, body hydration, and other similar health components of the user ¹⁶.

Phencyclidine is a Class A drug, which means that it’s illegal to have for yourself, give away or sell. Possession can get you up to seven years in jail. Supplying someone else, including giving it to your friends, can get you life and an unlimited fine ¹.

Mixing PCP with other drugs is very high-risk behaviour. Due to the unpredictable nature of PCP side-effects, many risks that do not exist with other drugs of abuse become more prevalent with PCP.

• alcohol – SedativeOne of a diverse group of drugs manufactured for medical purposes to relax the central nervous system. More narcotics such as PCP raise the risk of overdose in combination with use of other sedativeOne of a diverse group of drugs manufactured for medical purposes to relax the central nervous system. More medications, including alcohol. Because the risk for hallucinationswhere someone sees, hears, smells, tastes or feels things that don't exist outside of their mind and delusional thinking and behaviour is so high with PCP use, alcohol can increase the likelihood of reduced inhibitory markers, allowing the user to increase risky behaviours and suicidal ideation.
• antidepressants – The effects on the brain of both PCP and antidepressant medications are very similar. While this is an established effect with use of antidepressants for prescribed users, introduction of PCP along with these medications is likely to increase the effects in dangerous ways. The mechanisms of operation for both types of medication have been recognised to be effective in creating a distancing, detached state that may become seriously implicated for suicidal ideation and attempts, especially in the under 18 year old brain.
• anti-psychotics – When combined with antipsychotics, PCP symptoms may be reduced. This is good information for those who seek to treat the long-term or permanent damage done by PCP usage. However, there are only a few of these drugs that effectively offset the chemical reaction of PCP in the brain. The research is ongoing to discover the inhibitory aspects of anti-psychotic medications on the receptor sites damaged through PCP use ¹⁸.

There is little or no evidence that use of PCP by those who are taking anti-psychotic medications would be more or less likely to experience psychoticthis is a mental state when you see or hear things which aren't there and have delusions More responses to the use of PCP. Because of the nature of the mental illness being treated by anti-psychotic medication, PCP may increase the risk of psychoticthis is a mental state when you see or hear things which aren't there and have delusions More experiences for this population. The confounding factor of hallucinationswhere someone sees, hears, smells, tastes or feels things that don't exist outside of their mind and/or delusions is hard to determine causally.

Other risks with sedativeOne of a diverse group of drugs manufactured for medical purposes to relax the central nervous system. More mixers and PCP is that of the depressed state of the central nervous systembrain and spinal cord, which is not incrementally affected by use of these two in combination, but synergisticallyThe effect arising between two or more agents, entities, factors, or substances that produce an effect greater than the sum of their individual effects. More affected, creating a much higher risk than that of just each component. The effects are dangerously multiplied with this combination, which also includes risk of overdose and cessation of breathing functions, heart stoppage and death ¹⁸.

• benzodiazepines – Users combining PCP with benzodiazepine medications are running the same risks as that of drinking alcohol with PCP use. The increased risk of overdose is higher than with other combinations of drugs. Most often, death from PCP use is caused by suicide, rather than overdose. This risk is increased by use of PCP with benzodiazepines.
• heroin – The dangers of using PCP with heroin and other Central Nervous Systembrain and spinal cord depressants, such as alcohol, benzodiazepines, and even marijuana are similar. All side-effects are increased, and cessation of breath and heart function are intensified tremendously with use of these combined medications.
• marijuana – Use of marijuana while on PCP is frequent, because many users put liquid PCP on pot and smoke it. Again, the risk is that of the depressed state of the central nervous systembrain and spinal cord. Due to the hallucinogenic and delusions created with PCP use, risk with marijuana is that of increased occurrence of paranoiasuspicion, distrust or fear of other people and psychosis that may become permanent ¹⁸.

The dangers of antidepressants on this population are well-known and documented. Increased risks are likely to be present with the addition of PCP to the mix. Detachment of both behaviours and emotional responses seen with PCP would most often be seen as loss of control of rational thinking and delusions that would lead to high-risk behaviours and lack of understanding of consequences/outcomes of such behaviour. Also irrational and psychoticthis is a mental state when you see or hear things which aren't there and have delusions More behaviours may be more pronounced with this combination of drugs ¹⁸.

• if you think you are overdosing on PCP, please seek emergency medical attention immediately. At Accident & Emergency, doctors usually provide 1mg Lorazepam (benzodiazepine) and 1 – 10mg Haloperidol (anti-psychotic) to combat PCP overdoses and violent or unpredictable behaviour,
• do not drive or operate heavy machinery,
• avoid walking or moving in general if possible,
• always experiment with drugs with a sober friend in a safe place. Start low, increase until desired effect,
• a full stomach may lead to nausea; consider fasting 3 – 4+ hours before usage ¹³.

First synthesised in 1926, Phencyclidine was developed by Parke, Davis and Company under the trade name Sernyl for use as a general anaesthetic for humans in the 1950’s ¹⁹, and subsequently was used in veterinary medicine as a tranquilliser ²⁰. By 1965, use with humans was discontinued as clinical studies revealed that patients experienced delusions, severe anxiety and agitation when emerging from the drug’s effects ²¹, ²⁰. Today, use even in the veterinary community is rare, though small amounts continue to be manufactured for research purposes ²⁰.

Manufactured in clandestine laboratories, Phencyclidine emerged as a substance of abuse in the mid-1960’s. It often appeared in pill form and was known as ‘The PeaCe Pill’, a term that contributed to the acronym Phencyclidine ²⁰. It’s use spread in the 1970’s and peaked around 1978 as snorting or smoking (giving users a more immediate high) the powder form of Phencyclidine became more popular ²².