Substance abuse is still a common issue worldwide. In America alone, around 702,000 people died from 1999 to 2017 due to drug overdose and since, drug overdose has been considered an epidemic. This is a serious problem that is slowly killing people who were once sober but became addicted. Not to mention the endless kinds of drugs that exist nowadays that you can’t even tell them apart from each other. The extent of the effects of these drugs are different and as they try each one up to the strong kinds, people just fall deeper and deeper into addiction.
As concerned citizens, it is important to understand and learn about addiction, including which types of drugs are the most dangerous. This will help us recognize them and know how to deal with it when a person we know struggles with substance abuse.
In this article, we will breakdown everything you need to know about this particular drug called phencyclidine or also known as angel dust.
Table of Contents
What is Angel Dust?
Angel dust is the street name for phencyclidine or PCP. Ironic for its name, angel dust is considered to be one of the most addictive and dangerous drugs that are out there. PCP was developed in the 1950s and was supposed to be used as an anaesthetic. However, it was observed that the use of this drug caused neurotoxic side effects, which means that it can disrupt the nervous system and eventually damage the brain due to the man-made toxic substances. Since the 1970s, the use of PCP was discontinued and it was labelled as an illegal drug.
PCP is a crystalline powder when at its pure form. It is now commonly sold as a white or yellowish powder and can be dissolved in water or alcoholic drinks.
According to statistics, 1.4 million Americans are regular users of PCP and 10% of them are minors.
The Risks of PCP
PCP is among other drugs that are considered as hallucinogens like ecstasy and ketamine. These drugs can cause hallucinations. Those who take PCP have claimed that they felt calm and euphoric when under its influence. However, angel dust effects can cause dangerous effects to the user. Numbness, inability to speak and move properly and abnormal eye movements are some of its side effects. As you get deeper into addiction to using heroin regularly, it can lead to many body changes as an effect.
People who are addicted and take a high dosage of angel dust may feel more detrimental side effects They may experience nausea, memory loss, extremely low blood pressure, seizures, and if the paranoia worsens, it may lead to suicidal tendencies.
Treatment for PCP Addiction
Addiction to PCP is really dangerous as it may fully change the user’s personality and, worst, it can cause death once overdosed. Just like any other drugs, stopping PCP addiction causes withdrawal symptoms like craving, distress, and depression. Anyone who is getting over addiction to this drug needs proper and constant assistance since their mental well-being may be a bit distorted. It is advisable to seek medical help from professional psychological doctors. Some centers offer treatment programs that could further assist you and your loved one that is overcoming substance addiction.
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