Commentary - (2023) Volume 7, Issue 1
Received: 30-Jan-2023, Manuscript No. IPJABT-23-15752; Editor assigned: 01-Feb-2023, Pre QC No. IPJABT-23-15752 (PQ); Reviewed: 15-Feb-2023, QC No. IPJABT-23-15752; Revised: 20-Feb-2023, Manuscript No. IPJABT-23-15752 (R); Published: 27-Feb-2023, DOI: 10.35841/ipjabt-7.1.04
Phencyclidine (PCP) is an illegal street drug that usually comes in the form of a white powder that can be dissolved in alcohol or water. It can be bought in powder or liquid form. PCP is a psychotropic drug. This means that it affects the brain (central nervous system), changing your mood, behavior, and how you relate to the world around you. Scientists believe it blocks the normal functioning of certain chemicals in the brain. PCP belongs to a class of drugs called hallucinogens. These are substances that cause hallucinations. They are things you see, hear, or feel when you are awake that seem real but are created by the mind. PCP is also known as a dissociative drug. This makes you feel disconnected from your body and your surroundings. Phencyclidine use disorder is a diagnostic label that first appeared in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, also known as DSM-5. This disorder affects people who have problems taking substances in the phencyclidine group or pharmacologically similar substances such as ketamine.
While PCP has been less popular in recent decades, it appears to be making a comeback. PCP-infused marijuana cigarettes, known as “Fry” have been identified as a modern form of PCP considered harmful due to their rapidly addictive properties and effects, which include an increased risk of violence and hallucinations. While addiction is often the first concern when we think of substance use disorders, many other dangers outweigh addiction. Withdrawal symptoms are usually non-existent, and while tolerability and habitual use can certainly be an issue for users of phencyclidine and similar-acting drugs like ketamine, the risk of serious physical injury and mental illness is greater than with many other drugs. The drug is dissociative at best, creating a sense of detachment from the body, which can cause users to wander, oblivious to dangers such as traffic and heights. In severe cases, this can lead to what is known as a K-hole, movement difficulties that leave the user in a state of physical vulnerability or even a coma. In terms of mental health, the drug’s hallucinogenic effects can last for days or weeks, leaving the individual in a psychotic state.
Dissociative drugs are sometimes used to facilitate sexual abuse as the victim may not be able to move and may not even be aware that they are being abused. However, the psychological consequences of sexual abuse and rape are just as traumatic and can still result in convictions for the perpetrators and long-term psychological problems for the victims. Since romantic rape poses a real risk of drug use, especially in vulnerable young women, never take drugs at the instigation of someone who could be a potential rapist, no matter how glamorous that sounds. Be careful when accepting drinks that you have not prepared or seen from a professional bartender. There have been many cases of post-date rape after a dissociative drug was used in a drink served to an unsuspecting victim. If you think you may have been raped while under the influence of drugs, it is important to report it to the police as soon as possible, even if you do not remember what happened. This does not only do justice to you, but also to other potential victims who could be exploited by unreported serial rapists.
I am grateful to all of those with whom I have had the pleasure to work during this and other related projects.
No conflicts of interest to disclose.
Citation: Alberto S (2023) Adverse Effects of Illegal Street Drug-Phencyclidine. J Addict Behav Ther. 7:04.
Copyright: © 2023 Alberto S. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
