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A Guide to Drugs and the Brain



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PCP


PCP (phencyclidine) was originally developed as an anesthetic for humans and large animals. Legal (prescription) use of PCP in humans was discontinued in 1965. It is illegally manufactured in clandestine laboratories and is sold as tablets, capsules and colored powders. PCP is usually snorted, smoked or eaten.

"PCP is most commonly sold as a powder (left), or a liquid (center) and applied to a leafy material such as oregano (right) which is then smoked." Drugs of Abuse, 1996 Edition, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Effects
PCP produces feelings of invulnerability and a numbing effect on the mind that can often result in anger and rage. At high doses, there is a drop in blood pressure, pulse rate, and respiration. PCP can cause effects that mimic certain primary symptoms of schizophrenia.

Common Street Names
Angel dust, crystal supergrass, killer joints, ozone, wack, rocket fuel.

Legal Status
PCP is a Schedule II drug in the U.S. Controlled Substances Act.

 


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