In an illegal setting, the drug is typically mixed in powdered form with a leafy substance such as parsley, mint, tobacco, or marijuana and is smoked. Among chronic users, visual, memory, and speech disorders have been noted. Effects are evident one to two hours after ingestion and generally last four to six hours. PCP’s effects vary by user and are influenced by mood, dosage, and setting. At high doses, PCP is highly toxic and can cause convulsions and coma. A PCP user is often impervious to pain and generally exhibits emotional instability, excited intoxication, a lack of coordination, high blood pressure, and increased deep-tendon muscle reflexes.

Although most users do not have psychotic episodes, the effects of the drug are extremely unpredictable. In low doses it produces effects similar to those of LSD, though violent and psychotic behaviour seem to be more characteristic of PCP. Used for a brief time as a general anesthetic in humans, its side effects range from distorted self-perception to severe disorientation and unpredictable psychotic behaviour, which quickly discouraged its legal use.Īs with other hallucinogens, PCP does not cause physical dependence. PCP was first developed in 1956 by Parke Davis Laboratories of Detroit for use as an anesthetic in veterinary medicine, though it is no longer used in this capacity. PCP, abbreviation of phencyclidine, byname angel dust, hallucinogenic drug with anesthetic properties, having the chemical name 1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl)piperidine.

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