PCP Addiction Signs, Symptoms, Effects & Treatment

Originally intended and used as an intravenous anesthetic, phencyclidine or PCP, currently has no accepted medicinal uses in the United States. PCP is a synthetic dissociative drug, meaning that it makes you feel detached from yourself and distorts your sensory perceptions.

It was discontinued from licit medicinal uses due to patients suffering from hallucinations and delirium after use.

PCP is illegal to use, buy, or sell in the United States. It is manufactured illegally, however, and marketed as a liquid, powder, crystal, tablet, or capsule

Signs of PCP Abuse and Addiction

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), approximately 1.3 million Americans over the age of 12 used hallucinogens in the month before the survey in 2013. The young adult population seems to abuse PCP most frequently, as the Monitoring the Future (MTF) Study of 2014 found that 0.8 percent of 12th graders had abused PCP at some point in their lifetime.

PCP has both short- and long-term side-effects associated with its use. PCP interferes with the neurotransmitter glutamate, which is responsible for perceptions of pain and of the surrounding environment as well as memory and learning. Dopamine and serotonin – responsible for mood regulation, behavior, and pleasure – are also affected by PCP abuse. PCP, therefore, disrupts the brain’s natural chemicals and alters the reward circuitry. The effects of PCP use on the body are wide-ranging and impact a variety of the body’s systems.

Short-term side effects of PCP use

• Agitation
• Confusion
• Decreased Pain Sensations
• Detachment
• Delusions
• Elevated Heart Rate
• Hallucinations
• Impaired Cognition
• Impaired Learning
• Increased Blood Pressure
• Irregular Respiration
• Lack of Coordination
• Mood Swings
• Numbness
• Paranoia
• Raised Body Temperature
• Sedation
• Sense of Invulnerability and Strength
• Slurred Speech
• Sweating
• Toxic Overdose and/or Death
• Violent Behavior

Short-term side-effects may last from four to eight hours.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that mood disturbances and particularly anxiety symptoms were present in half of those admitted to the emergency room with problems relating to PCP abuse. The risks for accidental death as well as suicide also goes up with PCP abuse. Side effects and their severity depend on the method of ingestion as well as the amount taken and whether or not it was mixed with other drugs or alcohol. Injecting or snorting PCP sends the drug rapidly across the blood-brain barrier, for example, greatly increasing the risks for overdose and increasing potential side effects.

The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) cites smoking as the most common method of abusing PCP, as the drug is often mixed with herbs or leaves and smoked to mask its strong flavor. You will likely feel the effects of PCP within two to five minutes if smoked, between 30 and 60 minutes if swallowed, and almost immediately if injected. Mixing drugs or alcohol with PCP will also heighten all risk factors, as the drugs may interact with each other. According to the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services (DAODAS) of South Carolina, five out of six overdose deaths related to PCP abuse in the United States involved more than one drug.

Chronic/long-term side effects of PCP use

• Anxiety
• Auditory Hallucinations
• Codependency
• Coma
• Damage to the Central Nervous System
• Delusions
• Difficulty Thinking
• Extreme Weight Loss
• Flashbacks
• Hallucinations
• Liver Function Abnormalities
• Memory Loss
• Muscle Rigidity
• Impaired Decision Making
• Psychosis
• Speech Problems
• Severe Depression
• Suicidal Thoughts
• Weight Loss
• Withdrawal from Social Situations

In 2010, the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) reported 53,542 people were admitted to emergency departments for issues related to PCP abuse. A PCP overdose is potentially life-threatening. If you notice any of the following, seek immediate medical assistance: catatonic state, hallucinations, high blood pressure, psychosis, violent behavior, convulsions, severe lack of coordination, or loss of consciousness. Someone using PCP can also be dangerous or violent and should be handled or approached with extreme care.

How to Help a Loved One Addicted to PCP

If someone you know is addicted to PCP you already know how dangerous the situation they are in is. PCP is a strong, powerful hallucinogen that does significant, sometimes permanent, damage to the brain, nervous system and body. The safest path for someone addicted to PCP is to get help in a structured environment.

While some drug addicts make a choice to enter rehab, it’s often a family member or loved one that play a key role in getting into treatment. When addicted to drugs, one’s decision making power is often clouded greatly as serving the addiction is the brain’s focus. A friend of loved one often becomes a transformative factor that introduces alternatives such as detox and rehab with as few barriers as possible.

For more information on how a loved one can help someone struggling with drug addiction, visit our friends and family portal. It’s often a friend or family member that picks up the phone and reaches out for help, and we’re here to offer that help.

PCP Treatment and Therapy Options

If you, or your loved one, are abusing or dependent on PCP, help is available. Drug cravings and withdrawal symptoms may be best managed through a medical detox process in a specialized facility offering round-the-clock medical care. Medications may even be used to smooth the process. Evidence-based treatment models include the most current scientific research as well as clinical experience and personal preferences in order to determine the best plan for each specialized circumstance. Behavioral therapies are effective in reversing negative behavior patterns and thoughts and boosting positive self-images and self-esteem.

Getting PCP Addiction Treatment

The Recovery Village offers a safe and luxurious environment where recovery takes place in tranquil and private accommodations with various amenities and offerings. Group, individual, and family therapy and counseling sessions are all vital parts of recovery. The Recovery Village also provides alumni support groups to help sustain families and loved ones during and after treatment. Physical and emotional balance are restored with nutritious diet plans and numerous recreational, educational, and peer support group opportunities.

Call us for a free assessment. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to take your call.

Visit the following websites to learn about The Recovery Village’s network of drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities. Call today for admissions. Each center is ready to help people learn how to cope with their addiction and uncover the root causes for their substance use disorder.

• Orlando Recovery Center: A premier rehabilitation facility in Orlando, Florida that helps individuals recover from addiction and substance use disorders. The center also offers the opportunity to treat co-occurring disorders.
• The Recovery Village Columbus: Located in Ohio, this facility provides inpatient, outpatient and aftercare treatment for people looking to begin detox. The center provides individualized plans to help patients through recovery while addressing their unique co-occurring disorders or any setbacks that may happen during recovery.
• The Recovery Village Palmer Lake: In Colorado, this facility offers inpatient, outpatient and intensive outpatient treatment for individuals looking to kick-start their journey to recovery.
• The Recovery Village Ridgefield: Located right in southern Washington, this facility provides patients with outpatient and aftercare programs. Just 20 minutes outside of Portland, this facility assists individuals who are ready to begin treatment.
• The Recovery Village: In Umatilla, Florida, this is a rehabilitation facility that provides resources for individuals seeking drug and alcohol treatment. There are inpatient, outpatient, intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization treatment programs available for those suffering from Ambien addiction.
• IAFF Center of Excellence: Specializes in assisting firefighters who struggle with behavioral health problems and addiction. Members can enter the recovery process sooner so they can return back to work as quickly as possible. Inpatient, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs are all available at this facility, where patients can address their Ambien addiction in a safe, supportive environment.
• Denver Mental Health & Counseling: Denver Mental Health and Counseling by The Recovery Village is a physician-led outpatient center specializing in evidence-based addiction and mental health treatments, offering services such as TMS, IOP, and personalized care for both ongoing and new patients, dedicated to fostering long-term recovery and overall well-being.
• The Recovery Village Palm Beach at Baptist Health: The Recovery Village Palm Beach at Baptist Health is a premier physician-led treatment center in South Florida, offering a comprehensive spectrum of services from medical detox to outpatient programs for alcohol, drug, and co-occurring mental health conditions, with a commitment to rejuvenating lives, families, and communities, and facilitating same-day admissions.
• The Recovery Village Atlanta: Located in Roswell just outside downtown Atlanta, is a 62-bed physician-led treatment facility offering a comprehensive range of services, from medical detox to outpatient care, specializing in alcohol, drug, and co-occurring mental health conditions, dedicated to transforming lives, families, and communities throughout Georgia.
• The Recovery Village Kansas City: The Recovery Village Kansas City, an 80-bed facility in Raytown just 10 miles from downtown, offers a comprehensive range of evidence-based treatments for addiction and mental health conditions, overseen by physician leaders, and is dedicated to revitalizing lives, families, and communities throughout the Midwest.
• The Recovery Village Cherry Hill at Cooper Health: The Recovery Village Cherry Hill at Cooper, situated just 20 minutes from Philadelphia, is a leading rehab facility in South Jersey providing comprehensive, evidence-based addiction and mental health treatments, ranging from medical detox to teletherapy, with a dedicated team committed to guiding adults on their path to lifelong recovery.