Angel Dust (PCP) Is A Class B Drug In United Kingdom And Its Effects Are Dangerous
The effects of Angel Dust (PCP), commonly known as angel dust or angel dust, are dangerous. PCP is a very powerful hallucinogen which causes severe mental impairment and sometimes death. PCP is not only used recreationally but also for its medical purposes, such as treating depression and anxiety disorders. However, it may cause severe psychological damage if taken in large doses.
It is illegal to sell, buy, give away or possess with intent to supply Angel Dust (PCP) in the UK. If you have any doubts about whether your possession of angel dust is legal, contact the police immediately. PCP can cause psychosis and hallucinations which could lead to suicidal thoughts or actions. There are no reliable treatments for PCP addiction and there is currently no cure for PCP addiction.
What Is Angel Dust?
Angel dust is a type of synthetic cathinone, which means it contains chemicals similar to those found in bath salts. These drugs are often sold under different brand names, such as “Euphoria”, “Blue Dream” or “White Lightning”. They are usually manufactured using bath salt-like substances.
A psychoactive drug is a substance that affects the brain and causes changes in a person’s mood, thinking or behavior. When these drugs are taken too much, they can cause psychosis, which makes a person lose contact with reality. They also cause paranoia and feelings of anxiety.
PCP is very addictive and its effects can last for six to 12 hours. It can be in the form of a fine white powder, a pill, a tablet or a liquid. It can be swallowed, snorted or dissolved in a liquid and injected. It can also be mixed with plant material to create the drug known as Wet.
The signs of PCP abuse include
Aggressive behavior
Coordination problems
Delusions
Depression
Erratic or violent behavior
Feelings of mistrust may develop; Mood swings
Hallucinations, such as feeling insects under your skin, sensing people nearby, etc.
Mimics schizophrenia or other psychotic illnesses
Poor judgment, which can result in risky behavior
Slurred speech or trouble speaking
What Is PCP?
The term “angel dust” is sometimes used to refer to PCP. It can be snorted, swallowed or smoked. It can also be mixed with plant material to form a drug called wet (a combination of angel dust and plant material) that can be smoked or chewed like tobacco. The effects of angel dust can last from 4-12 hours.
How Is PCP Used?
Some ways you might use PCP are:
Chewed and inhaled as smoke.
Dissolved in a beverage and drunk.
Dripped on marijuana or tobacco cigarettes and smoked.
Dissolved in alcoholic beverages, such as wine or beer.
Mixed with other drugs.
Applied to the skin like a liniment (heated liquid).
Sniffed up the nose.
Swallowed or injected.
Can You Die From PCP Overdose?
Yes, you can die from an overdose of PCP. It’s effects are unpredictable, and you can’t be sure how it will affect you. It could slow your body systems, depriving vital organs of the oxygen and nutrients they need to function.
You might also have an irregular heartbeat or suffer a heart attack. The drug can also cause respiratory arrest, and you may suffocate because you can’t breathe normally.
Another risk is that the drug can cause serious cognitive problems and lead to mood disturbances, particularly if used long-term.
If you continue using PCP, you may get mentally stuck in a state of psychosis that makes it impossible to tell what is real and what is not. You may be so convinced that everyone is against you or telling lies about you that you become violent towards others or depressed.
If you’re already mentally ill, taking PCP can make your illness worse. It can also trigger a relapse in people who have recovered from a mental health condition. It can even cause hallucinations in people who didn’t have them before.
Other side effects include weight loss, tooth decay, skin sores and respiratory problems.
Death from PCP overdose is usually due to:
respiratory failure
cardiac arrest
suicide (in the case of depression)
arrhythmia (heart problems)
mental problems such as delusions or severe confusion.
What Is ‘Dusting’?
Dusting is a process where PCP, chemicals used to make it or other drugs such as ketamine are sprinkled over another drug, such as MDMA (ecstasy). The drugs are then swallowed or the person biting into a dummy capsule containing the drugs.
What Does It Look Like?
There are various forms of the drug, such as:
Fine white powder, which can be sniffed, swallowed or dissolved in a liquid and injected.
Tablets, which can be swallowed or dissolved in a liquid and injected.
Liquid, which can be swallowed, injected or added to drinks.
Or a combination of the above.
Has PCP Ever Been Medicalized?
In the 1960s, it was used as an anesthetic, but its side effects (such as mental problems) made it less popular.
Is PCP Addictive?
Yes, long-term use can lead to addiction. Even short-term use can lead to strong cravings for more. Quitting can lead to symptoms such as insomnia, anxiety and depression. Withdrawal is possible, but it may be dangerous without medical supervision.
How Does It Affect The Brain?
It’s not fully known how the drug affects the brain, but it’s thought to block receptors that reduce levels of glutamate. Glutamate is a natural brain chemical that helps nerve cells communicate with each other, and also controls how sensory information gets into the brain.
Glutamate causes the flow of electrical signals between nerve cells to increase, which can lead to a state of hyper-excitability of the brain cells. This is what causes the hallucinations.
What About The Long-Term Effects Of PCP Use?
Prolonged use is likely to have an adverse effect on brain function. The drug can also affect:
the nerves controlling the heart rhythm
the lungs which can cause problems such as emphysema
damage the artery walls
What About Withdrawal?
Withdrawal from the drug is possible and typically begins within six hours of the last dose. It may include:
sweating
agitation
diarrhoea
insomnia
anxiety
depression
irritability
muscle spasms.
These symptoms can occur between six hours and up to two weeks after use.
Overdose Is A Risk, What Are The Signs?
The side effects of overdose include:
confusion
hallucinations
dilated pupils
respiratory depression (breathing becomes slower and shallower)
loss of motor control
convulsions.
It can also suppress the gag reflex and so prevents you from vomiting, leading to fluid build-up in the lungs. This can lead to permanent brain damage and death.
Sources & references used in this article:
Angel dust in four American cities: an ethnographic study of PCP users by HW Feldman – 1980 – books.google.com
PCP and violent crime: The people vs. peace by RK Siegel – Journal of psychedelic drugs, 1980 – Taylor & Francis
The psychiatric aspects of chronic phencyclidine use: a study of chronic PCP users by MA Fairman, BJ Fauman – … (PCP) abuse: an appraisal, 1978 – books.google.com
