PCP is the abbreviation for the powerful, dissociative sedative drug more formally known as phencyclidine. While there are always new drugs and old drugs being sold throughout the United States, many do not compare to Phencyclidine. Other names for this drug include most commonly, PCP, to other exotic names such as ozone, horse tranquilizer, rocket fuel, love boat, hog, embalming fluid, or superweed. PCP is considered by many to be both a dissociative drug and a hallucinogen. A dissociative drug causes the user to have distorted perceptions of the world around them through their senses such as sight and hearing. The distortion gives the user a separation from their environment, hence the name, dissociation. According to the DEA, PCP is legally
…show more content…
One prominent aspect of a PCP high is the lack of pain response, which can occasionally give users the false sense that they have superhuman strength. The lack of pain response can be so strong that people have been known to dismember parts of their body, with no pain response until the effects of PCP wear off. A rapper named Andre Johnson got high on PCP, soon after he cut off his genitalia and jumped off a two story building, he miraculously survived. Without pain response, it is very difficult to restrain people. Restrainment is normally very difficult because they may fight back and not respond to typical restraining methods, such as tasers, pepper spray, and batons. Therefore, in cases where people are high on PCP in public, it could take more than a few officers just to get handcuffs on. Another effect of PCP would be a sharp increase in body temperature. That's why many drug recognition experts will quickly know someone is on PCP if they are naked and sweaty.
While the description above of a PCP high seems very violent a PCP user may seem very calm, possibly staring off into space. This is because PCP also acts as a hallucinogen. The transition from peaceful to aggressive and violent can be triggered by even the most minute action to a sober person. These triggers could be someone clapping, slamming a door or even just turning on the lights in a …show more content…
During the 1950s, PCP was used as a surgical anesthetic for humans. Eventually, during the late 1950s, it was used as an animal tranquilizer. PCP was initially widely accepted by the medical community because of its effectiveness in reducing pain intake and its minimal effect on the heart and lungs. However, PCP began to produce undesired side effects such as psychosis, severe anxiety, and dysphoria. It was no longer used as an anesthetic but still was used as an animal tranquilizer and restricted to use by veterinarians only. PCP first entered the street scene in Haight Ashbury, San Francisco during the 1960s. The Haight was a district known for its culture of psychedelic drug use, as well as for being central to the hippie
One prominent aspect of a PCP high is the lack of pain response, which can occasionally give users the false sense that they have superhuman strength. The lack of pain response can be so strong that people have been known to dismember parts of their body, with no pain response until the effects of PCP wear off. A rapper named Andre Johnson got high on PCP, soon after he cut off his genitalia and jumped off a two story building, he miraculously survived. Without pain response, it is very difficult to restrain people. Restrainment is normally very difficult because they may fight back and not respond to typical restraining methods, such as tasers, pepper spray, and batons. Therefore, in cases where people are high on PCP in public, it could take more than a few officers just to get handcuffs on. Another effect of PCP would be a sharp increase in body temperature. That's why many drug recognition experts will quickly know someone is on PCP if they are naked and sweaty.
While the description above of a PCP high seems very violent a PCP user may seem very calm, possibly staring off into space. This is because PCP also acts as a hallucinogen. The transition from peaceful to aggressive and violent can be triggered by even the most minute action to a sober person. These triggers could be someone clapping, slamming a door or even just turning on the lights in a …show more content…
During the 1950s, PCP was used as a surgical anesthetic for humans. Eventually, during the late 1950s, it was used as an animal tranquilizer. PCP was initially widely accepted by the medical community because of its effectiveness in reducing pain intake and its minimal effect on the heart and lungs. However, PCP began to produce undesired side effects such as psychosis, severe anxiety, and dysphoria. It was no longer used as an anesthetic but still was used as an animal tranquilizer and restricted to use by veterinarians only. PCP first entered the street scene in Haight Ashbury, San Francisco during the 1960s. The Haight was a district known for its culture of psychedelic drug use, as well as for being central to the hippie