Side Effects of PCP Abuse: Short-Term and Long-Term Dangers

If you or a loved one is struggling with PCP addiction, know that help is available to guide you toward recovery and a healthier life. Long-term recovery involves developing a relapse prevention plan, addressing any underlying mental health issues, and building a healthy lifestyle. This might include regular therapy sessions, healthy habits, and a strong support network to maintain sobriety and improve overall well-being.

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While their strength does not actually increase, they may do things like punch through windows because they cannot feel the pain. In the meantime, treatment programs provide an essential source of support for those struggling to break free from addiction. When taken in high doses, angel dust can also cause seizures, damage to the skeletal muscles, coma, and even death. These effects are just some of the things that taking PCP may lead to. If someone uses this drug heavily or for an extended period of time, they may be at risk for even more health complications and concerns down the line.

Potential dangers, including confusion, aggression, and impaired coordination

In some people, PCP can also cause delusions of super strength and invincibility. For example, short courses of benzodiazepines may be used for anxiety and stabilization. Appropriate medications are also available to reduce headaches, nausea, high blood pressure, and other symptoms that can arise when someone is detoxing from PCP. Angel dust is ingested in several different ways, including injection, swallowing, snorting, and smoking. Some people choose to leave it in powder form and add the powder to herbs or cannabis.

Can You Overdose on PCP? What Are the Associated Health Risks?

By binding to these receptors, PCP disrupts the normal functioning of glutamate, a crucial neurotransmitter involved in learning, memory, and cognition. This is when someone feels the effects of PCP, days, weeks, or even months after last using it. Unless you are willing to admit that you have a problem and want to do something about it, treatment will not be successful. Once you have decided to seek help, the next step is to find a treatment program that can address your specific needs.

Higher doses of around 20 mg or more can lead to severe reactions such as seizures, coma, and even death. The liver primarily metabolizes PCP, and about 10% is excreted through the kidneys. These withdrawal symptoms can be challenging to manage, often driving individuals back to drug use and perpetuating the cycle of addiction.

Long-Term Consequences

The goal of treatment is to help you improve skills for early recovery, relapse prevention, relationships, communication, setting goals and long term abstinence. You’ll also develop a healthy support system of professionals, family and friends to help you maintain sobriety after you complete treatment. Common nicknames include PCP, wet, fry, sherm sticks, and angel dust weed when mixed with marijuana. If you or a loved one suffer from PCP addiction, reach out to us at Avenues Recovery so our experts can guide you on your path to recovery. Our highly professional programs have helped over 40,000 individuals break free of their addictions, and can help you too. Our skilled admissions team will give you a free assessment and direct you to the treatment option most suited to you.

Some other names for this illegal psychedelic include elephant tranquilizer, embalming fluid, hog, ozone, and wack. It was originally created in the 1950s as a surgical anesthetic, but was soon discontinued after researchers and health professionals discovered that it caused hallucinations. Today, angel dust is primarily manufactured in the United States, specifically in California. PCP may be sprayed on mint, marijuana, and parsley leaves or laced into marijuana joints. Users will typically either smoke, snort, swallow, or inject angel dust.

• Depression and anxiety are frequently reported among long-term PCP users.
• PCP pills can range in color from white to dark brown and may have various production stamps, all from illicit sources.
• PCP, also known as angel dust, has a profound impact on the human mind, leading to a range of psychological and behavioral risks.
• We offer expert treatment and care that can start your healing journey.

If you are with someone experiencing these symptoms, try to keep them calm and cool. Avoid giving them any more of the drug, and do not try to force them to vomit. PCP is a dangerous drug, and an overdose can be life-threatening.

What are the side effects of PCP?

Testing positive may come from direct PCP use, accidental exposure to pcp-laced weed, or rarely, cross-reactivity in drug screenings. If you or a loved one struggle with PCP addiction, reach out to us at Avenues Recovery so we can guide you on your path to recovery. In general, PCP can be detected in the blood for up to 24 hours. In addition to its effects on NMDA receptors, PCP also influences other neurotransmitter systems. It inhibits the reuptake of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, leading to increased levels of these neurotransmitters in the brain. This action contributes to the drug’s stimulant-like effects and its ability to induce euphoria.

The effects of PCP can be unpredictable, ranging from a sense of detachment from the body to feelings of invulnerability, altered perceptions, and hallucinations. In high doses, it can lead to violent behavior, severe confusion, and psychosis, along with serious health risks such as seizures, coma, or death. After discontinuing PCP use, people often experience withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, sweating, and drug cravings.

PCP Addiction Treatment at Avenues Recovery

Addiction to angel dust can develop quickly due to its powerful effects on the brain. Users often become what is angel dust side effects, use, and risks both physically and psychologically dependent, craving the drug and feeling compelled to use it despite the negative consequences. PCP can stay in your system for several days to weeks depending on factors like frequency of use, dosage, and individual metabolism.

• When a person is on PCP, the drug can also block memories, emotions and pain.
• So, while PCP can be cleared from the system over time, the residual psychological cravings that may remain are best treated with professional addiction treatment.
• PCP’s journey from a medical breakthrough to a controlled substance is a cautionary tale in pharmaceutical history.
• The consistency can vary from a powder to a moist, almost tarry substance.
• Today, angel dust is an illegal schedule II controlled substance.

Other forms of PCP, such as liquid or powder, can be ingested orally or applied to cigarettes and smoked. Liquid PCP is sometimes dipped onto cigarettes or joints, while powder can be encapsulated and swallowed. Each method of administration carries its own risks and potential for abuse, contributing to the drug’s dangerous reputation.

As the landscape of drug use continues to evolve, understanding the history and effects of substances like PCP remains crucial. The effects of PCP include causing users to feel disconnected from reality, making them act erratically, and increasing their risk of developing psychotic symptoms. Quitting can be difficult, with some users experiencing withdrawal symptoms, including severe cravings.

These risks can be severe and long-lasting, affecting not only the user but also those around them. As a powerful hallucinogen and dissociative drug, PCP causes users to feel disconnected from their surroundings and themselves. This dissociation can lead to a distorted sense of reality, where individuals may see, hear, or feel things that aren’t real. These hallucinations can be intense and potentially last for extended periods. For the best additional recovery, do not stop your treatment program early.

PCP stands for phencyclidine, which is the chemical name for the drug. Street names for PCP include ozone, rocket fuel, amp, shermans, wack, crystal, and embalming fluid. When mixed with marijuana, it might be called killer joints, fry, lovelies, wets, or waters.