Drug abuse may involve legal or illegal drugs. One illegal substance that can cause addiction is phencyclidine or PCP. This drug originally had legitimate medical uses. However, doctors discontinued using it due to the severe effects of PCP that patients experienced. Once you know more about the effects that PCP causes on the mind and body, you can recognize the dangers of using this drug. Consequently, you can appreciate the need to find expert recovery help to quit using PCP. Contact Bayview Recovery today at 855.478.3650 to learn about our addiction treatment programs.
What Is PCP?
PCP, also known as phencyclidine or angel dust, typically comes in a white powder format. However, some users may have liquid or colored powders. People who abuse this drug may inhale it, pour the liquid on leafy materials for smoking, inject the liquid, or take pills containing PCP.
All forms of PCP pose dangers to the body, both with the first use and subsequent abuse of the substance over time. Therefore, you should avoid any amount of PCP if you want to avoid its addictive properties and impacts on the body and mind.
What Are the Effects of PCP?
First, the effects of PCP depend on the amount used. Stronger physical and mental effects happen with increasing doses of the drug. Plus, using the drug for a long time regularly can also impact how it makes you feel.
When taking this drug in small amounts, it can cause feelings similar to drinking alcohol. Some people may become uncoordinated or feel numbness in their extremities.
Taking high doses of PCP can lead to more severe symptoms, such as the following:
- Hallucinations
- Delusions
- Paranoia
- Disordered speaking and trouble thinking
- Sleepiness
- Seizures or coma
Unfortunately, PCP also interacts with alcohol and several legal prescription medications. When combined with depressants, the chances for coma, seizures, or accidental overdose increase.
As terrible as the side effects of a single use of this drug are, regular intake of PCP will also lead to long-term effects, including addiction, memory loss, trouble thinking, speech problems, and depression. Even if you stop using PCP, the long-term impacts of its use can persist for several months. The addictive effects make stopping this drug after long-term use especially difficult. As a result of the effects of PCP, getting professional addiction treatment is critical to stopping the use of this drug.
What Type of Drug Abuse Treatment Can Help for Those Who Use PCP?
Many forms of drug abuse treatment can help those who use PCP to quit. Treatment for PCP addiction may include therapy in a variety of forms, depending on your personal mental health needs. The following are a few of the types of therapy that we offer at Bayview Recovery:
- Individual therapy program for one-on-one help
- Group therapy programs to get support and feedback from others
- Trauma therapy program to address the impacts of harmful events from your past
- Family therapy program to use family dynamics to help with treatment
These forms of therapy may occur in a variety of levels of care. For instance, you may participate in group therapy sessions while undergoing outpatient care or aftercare. However, some people may also need individual therapy during outpatient or partial hospitalization programs.
Overcoming drug abuse starts with reaching out for help to recovery. Yet, because the effects of PCP include confusion and cravings, making that first step toward breaking free of using this drug is especially difficult. You can do it, though, and find out how to stop using this drug and help your body and mind to heal from its impacts.
Connect with Bayview Recovery for Drug Abuse Treatment
The more you use PCP, the harder it is to stop. Don’t continue to let the effects of PCP ruin your life. You can get help to stop using this substance by first contacting us at Bayview Recovery at 855.478.3650. Our drug abuse treatment programs include therapy and a variety of ways to overcome substance addiction. Let us help you to find a newly recovered life free from PCP abuse.
Dr. Dave Cundiff, MD, MPH (Medical Reviewer)
