Phencyclidine, also known as PCP or angel dust, is an illicit drug once used in the 1950s as an intravenous anesthetic medication, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. PCP is available as a powder, tablet or capsule. You can snort, eat or smoke this drug in order to get its delusional and hallucinogenic affects. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 99,000 Americans aged 12 and older abused PCP at least once in their lifetimes as of 2008. Unfortunately, PCP is popular street drug because of its side effects.
Psychological Side Effects
PCP can cause you to feel detached from your body and surroundings, according to Drug Information Online. You may experience auditory hallucinations and have distorted visual illusions (seeing and hearing things that aren't present). PCP can also lead to anxiousness, panic attacks, paranoia, suicidal thoughts and violent behavior.
Physiological Side Effects
PCP can affect your body adversely. Users may experience numbness in the arms or legs, slurring of speech, trouble breathing, excessive sweating and dizziness. Nausea, vomiting and seizures are also common physiological side effects of PCP use.
Hazardous Side Effects
After stopping PCP use for a year, users can still experience hazardous side effects, including addictive behaviors such as craving PCP and compulsively looking for PCP regardless of the consequences. Depression, weight loss, memory loss and difficulty learning are other hazardous side effects that can affect quality of life. According to Drug Information Online, PCP is a sedative. When combined with alcohol, it can lead to coma and death.
