Narcotic Educational Foundation of America Drug Abuse Education Provider of the: California Narcotic Officers’ Association THE PCP STORY QUICK FACTS: Phencyclidine (PCP), a synthetic drug, is an illegal and mind altering drug. Phencyclidines are the single drug category which may produce signs and symptoms of several different drug categories including central nervous system depressants, central nervous system stimulants, hallucinogen, and narcotic analgesics. One or all of these symptoms may be present at some time. The presence and severity of these effects depends upon the person’s tolerance, dose, and physical makeup. Phencyclidine (PCP) exerts its primary effect by activating the region of the brain that controls mind-body disassociation or sensory deprivation. It appears to distort sensory messages sent to the central nervous system. It seems to stifle inhibitions and it deadens pain. The brain’s neurochemicals associated with phencyclidines control pain, endurance, mental stability, sleep control and self-esteem. The Phencyclidine (PCP) abuser may show classical signs of schizophrenia. The highest risk in using this drug is that there is an “unpredictability” to the outcome of the effects and the type of “trip” the user will experience. In the past there have been signs of an emotional addiction resulting in high levels of abuse in certain populations. HISTORY OF DRUG UNDER THE INFLUENCE History - (continued from column 1, this page) SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS The term PCP comes from the parent The powder can be placed with plant compound of phencyclidines named 1- material in hand rolled cigarettes and Acute confusional state of Low to phenylcyclohexyl piperidine then smoked. Medium dose: hydrochloride. The phencyclidines are PCP crystal can easily be diluted into a synthetically derived class of drugs. • Responsiveness-initially liquid. It will usually be clear to yellow The only supplies of PCP sold in the uncommunicative, may respond in color. A substance suspected to be United States are made in illegal to commands with nodding or PCP can generally be detected by its laboratories . eye movement. distinctive chemical odor. Liquid • containing PCP, when sprayed, PCP was first synthesized by Orientation - disoriented for sprinkled, or soaked onto a plant researchers at Parke Davis and time and place; appears confused or fearful; amnesia. material, which then dries, produces Company in 1956. In 1957, the first “angel dust.” The substance might be: clinical trial of the drug’s • mint leaves effectiveness as an anesthetic agent for Behavior - agitated, excited, combative, regressive, self- parsley, oregano, or other spices humans was conducted. PCP seemed marijuana to be more medically effective and destructive or bizarre. safer than other anesthetics, but • Speech - slurred, intermittently Liquid phencyclidine may also be caused other problems. When used as unable to articulate. dripped on factory cigarettes such as: a surgical anesthetic, up to thirty “Sherman “Moore” “Kool” percent of the patients manifested • Eyes - open or “blank stare agitation, excitement and appearance” with drooping of The primary method of ingestion of disorientation during the recovery eyelids, very little effect on pupil phencyclidine is by smoking the drug. period. Because of the frequency and size. The crystal or powder may be injected; severity of PCP toxic effects, it was although the practice is less common in soon limited to veterinary medicine • Nystagmus - horizontal and most geographical areas vertical. PCP Hydrochloride (HCl) in its pure The effects of PCP differ markedly with state is a powder, usually white in • Motor - gait unable to tandem dose. At low doses the most prominent color. However, due to the impurities walk, (moon) walk, muscle tone effect is similar to that of alcohol in the illicit manufacturing process it rigidity. intoxication; a generalized numbness. has a slight yellow or brownish tint to With increased doses, analgesia and then • it. This does not preclude a dealer Restlessness, repetitive anesthesia are noted. Large doses can from altering this standard appearance. movements. produce convulsions, coma or death. Most persons using PCP experience a • (Continued column 3, this page) Increased secretions-drooling. confused state characterized by feelings (Continued on page 2, column 1) History - (Continued from page 1, column 3) PHENCYCLIDINE of weightlessness, unreality, depression, RECOGNITION OF PCP METABOLISM AND anxiety and hallucinations. The inability INTOXICATION ELIMINATION to think and concentrate are often two reported findings. General Indicators: Metabolism is defined as the body’s mechanism for processing, using and The effects of PCP will vary greatly • eventually eliminating foreign depending upon the purity and amount of Perspiring heavily substances, like drugs, from the PCP used, and the individual’s • body. Once a drug has come into metabolism, sex, age, mental state, Blank stare contact with enzymes and / or psychological make-up, tolerance, etc. • chemicals in the bloodstream, a part The onset after smoking is approximately Agitation, excitement or all of the drug may take on a new 1 to 5 minutes. The drug will peak or chemical composition known as a plateau in 15 to 30 minutes and a person • Memory loss metabolite. So, as the drug exerts its will remain high for 4 - 6 hours. As much influence upon the body it is as 24-48 hours will elapse until the user • Chemical odor gradually neutralized, usually by the feels normal. liver or kidney, maybe both. • Incomplete and slurred verbal Metabolic processes generally PHARMACOLOGY OF responses decrease, but occasionally increase PHENCYCLIDINE the effects of psychoactive drugs • Increased pain threshold Since PCP is so strong, particularly for such as PCP. first time users, the range between a dose • that produces a pleasant sensory Non-communicative There are other factors that can affect deprivation effect and one that induces the metabolism of drugs: • catatonia, coma, or convulsions is very Disorientation small. Low dosages (2 to 5 mg) first Age - After the age of 30, the body • produce mild depression, then Cyclic mood swings produces fewer and fewer liver stimulation. Moderate doses (10 to 15 enzymes capable of metabolizing mg) can produce a desirable sensory- • Depersonalization certain drugs. deprived state. They can also produce extremely high blood pressure and very • Muscle rigidity Heredity - Individuals pass certain combative behavior. Other adverse traits to their offspring that affect the reactions to moderate doses include an • Hallucinations/delusions metabolism of drugs. They might inability to talk, a rigid robotic attitude, have more body fat, which will store tremors, confusion, agitation and fat-seeking type drugs like PCP. paranoid thinking. PCP is highly soluble in lipid (fat) There are three entirely different kinds of tissues. This process can allow for usage patterns noted with phencyclidine the re-release of the drug without abusers. Each carries its own respective taking in more. If the body is allowed dangers. to break down the fat into energy, One type of user smokes PCP PCP may re-enter the bloodstream. occasionally at parties, dance concerts This is often called a “PCP and other occasions. This person is least flashback.” likely to know what he or she is getting because a joint passed at a party contains Emotional State - The emotional an unknown dosage. Depending upon the state of the drug user also has a major amount used and the purity of the dose, effect on the drug action. PCP in the effect may be anything from a someone with paranoia can be very pleasant numbness to a violent freak out. dangerous because it can further disrupt the chemical balance within Another kind of user is the “regular the brain. user.” This person smokes PCP from twice a month up to three times a week. Other Drugs - The presence of Most of the regular users are hesitant to another drug can keep the body so accept the fact that they are “addicted’. busy that metabolism of a new drug Often they maintain regular employment is delayed. Poly-drug usage is not and appear to be functioning more or less LIQUID PCP only common, but develops a whole normally. IS SOMETIMES new set of medical criteria. (Continued on page #, column 1) STORED IN DARK Pharmacology - (continued from page 1) ANALOGS OF ANGEL (DEATH) DUST? PHENCYCLIDINE (PCP) “Lay off that stuff. It’s like a rattle There is a uniqueness of analogs to this class snake - it’ll kill you,” a father pleaded The third type of user is someone who with his son, Richard, whose friend uses PCP every day, or as often as it of drugs in that they have similar had died from using “that stuff.” can be found. This person is much pharmacological activity and are chemically related, but are not the same parent Richard replied, “I guess he just didn’t more likely to know what is being know how to use it.” No one else smoked because he or she is probably compound. One of the close relatives of PCP knows how to use such an dealing PCP in order to support the is a prescribed drug called Ketamine. It is used as a surgical anesthetic to control severe unpredictable drug. Richard was later expense of its use... or is buying it in found at the bottom of a swimming quantity and “doing his own thing.” pain from burns. There are reported to be at pool at his apartment complex. The So, the problems usually arise not least 34 other analogs of PCP that were looked at by Parke Davis and they all seemed newspaper reported “... curled up on from knowing what one is getting, but his side, his hands pillowed his head. rather from the fact that when to have similar pharmacological activity a to He was slumbering under water with someone uses it regularly; memory, Phencyclidine. Some of these analogs were produced by illicit laboratories to circumvent the aid of “that stuff” called Angel reasoning ability, judgment, and Dust.