Phencyclidine

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Phencyclidines

Phencyclidine (a contraction of the chemical name phenylcyclohexylpiperidine), abbreviated PCP, is a dissociative drug formerly used as an anaesthetic agent, exhibiting hallucinogenic and neurotoxic effects.

PCP was commercially developed in the 1950s by the Parke-Davis pharmaceutical company. Internationally, PCP is a Schedule II drug under the Convention on Psychotropic Substances."List of pychotropic substances under control, in accordance with the Convention on Pychotropic Substances of 1971": Report from 2003 (pdf)

Chemistry and pharmacology

Chemically and pharmacologically it is a member of the family of dissociative anesthetics, which also includes ketamine, tiletamine and high doses of dextromethorphan. Although the primary psychoactive effects of the drug only last hours, total elimination from the body is prolonged, typically extending over weeks.

Toxicology

PCP is a neurotoxin. It is more toxic than other dissociatives and its toxicity is more complex. The damages concern different brain regions and probably affect diverse receptor systems.R. Nakki et al. (1995): "Cerebellar toxicity of phencyclidine", J. Neurosci. Seite 2097-108 F.R. Sharp et al. (1994): "Neuronal injury produced by NMDA antagonists can be detected using heat shock proteins and can be blocked with antipsychotics", Psychopharmacol. Bull. 30 (4), 555-60

Medical and veterinary use

PCP was first tested after World War I as a surgical anaesthetic. Because of its adverse side-effects, it was shelved until the 1950s. It was then patented by Parke-Davis and named Sernyl (supposedly referring to serenity), but was again withdrawn from the market because of side effects. It was soon renamed Sernylan, and marketed as a veterinary anaesthetic, but again discontinued. Its side effects and long half-life in the human body made it unsuitable for medical applications. It is retained in fatty tissue and is broken down by the human metabolism into PCHP, PPC and PCAA. When smoked, some of it is broken down by heat into 1-phenyl-1-cyclohexene (PC) and piperidine.

Recreational use

PCP is consumed recreationally, mainly in the United States. The limited demand is met by illegal production. The drug is sold in an extremely limited number of cities, such as Washington, DC and Los Angeles. It is available as a liquid (PCP base dissolved most often in ether), but typically it is sprayed onto leafy material such as marijuana, mint, oregano, or parsley, and smoked.

Biochemical action

The N-methyl-L-Aspartate (NMDA) receptor, a type of ionotropic receptor, is found on the dentrites of neurons and receives signals in the form of neurotransmitters. Ingestion of PCP causes prolonged depolarization of the neuron and psychotic symptoms.

Method of absorption

The term "embalming fluid" is often used to refer to the liquid PCP which a cigarette or joint is dipped in, to be ingested through smoking. There is much confusion over the practice of dipping cigarettes in "embalming fluid" leading some to think that real embalming fluid may actually be used. This is a misconception that may cause serious health consequences beyond those of consuming PCP.

In its powder form, PCP can be insufflated (snorted). This method is almost the universal method of absorption in Eastern Canada, including Quebec and the Atlantic provinces.

In its pure form, PCP is a white crystalline powder that readily dissolves in water. However, most PCP on the illicit market contains a number of contaminants as a result of makeshift manufacturing, causing the color to range from tan to brown, and the consistency to range from powder to a gummy mass.

Effects

Whether PCP has any strong and consistent effects which are markedly different from other similar compounds is controversial. Some think that the drug's effects are as varied as its appearance. It may be that a moderate amount of PCP will cause users to feel detached, distant, and estranged from their surroundings. Numbness, slurred speech, and loss of coordination may be accompanied by a sense of strength and invulnerability. A blank stare, rapid and involuntary eye movements, diarrhea, and an exaggerated gait are alleged to be among the more observable effects. Acts of violence have been committed by people high on the drug; a well-known example is Brenda Ann Spencer, who claimed to have committed her school massacre while under the influence of alcohol and PCP.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse: at high doses of PCP, blood pressure, pulse rate, and respiration drop. This may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, nystagmus, drooling, loss of balance, and dizziness. High doses of PCP can also cause seizures, coma, and death (though death more often results from accidental injury or suicide during PCP intoxication). High doses can cause symptoms that mimic schizophrenia, such as delusions, hallucinations, paranoia, disordered thinking, a sensation of distance from one’s environment, and catatonia. Speech is often sparse and garbled.

Trends

PCP use is extremely prevalent in the Metro Washington DC area, especially in Prince George's County, Maryland and Southeast DC. In the Washington, DC area, it is often referred to as a dipper (cigarette dipped in PCP). PCP production is centered in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. Los Angeles-based street gangs, primarily the Crips, continue to distribute PCP to many cities in the United States using their cocaine trafficking operations. These gangs pose a particular problem due to their propensity for violence. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the widespread availability and use of crack cocaine displaced demand for PCP. More recently, however, reporting suggests that PCP abuse is increasing slightly in many cities, as some crack addicts return to the use of this drug. For instance, the DEA Portland District Office reports a resurgence in the popularity of liquid PCP, also known as "sherm", among Portland area gangs. California street gangs reportedly are responsible for the reemergence of PCP in the Pacific Northwest. Treated cigarettes, which have a yellow tint caused by the liquid PCP, were first observed on the street in 1996, costing between $15 and $20 each. The DEA Philadelphia Field Division also reports that PCP was available readily in the region in 1998. The DEA seized three clandestine PCP laboratories in 2004.

Mythology and appearances in pop culture

More so than any other illegal substance, PCP has developed an elaborate mythological history surrounding itself, spread by sources such as D.A.R.E. PCP is said in an urban legend to cause such entirely realistic hallucinations, such as that of spiders on the users' faces, which in turn causes them to create deep lacerations in the attempt at removing them.
Among police and firefighters, PCP is treated as a menace. Individuals on PCP are treated almost as bogey-men in personal safety lectures that are loaded with ghost stories such as people on PCP chasing down cars and breaking through walls because they are unable to feel pain.
One of the street thugs in the Charles Bronson film Death Wish II was portrayed as a PCP user - the scene where he assaults several police officers is reminiscent of an NFL wide receiver evading linemen.
Another famous mention is in the movie Terminator, where the violent attacks by the character played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, including punching through a glass window without feeling it, are attributed to PCP by the police.
In 1981's "Angel Dusted", and again in 1982's "Desperate Lives", characters played by actress Helen Hunt tangle with PCP. In one she even jumps out the window.
On Chappelle's Show, Dave Chappelle is offered PCP by Wayne Brady, which Dave refuses until he is threatened by Wayne (this being a parallel to the movie Training Day.) PCP references abound in the series--The World Series of Dice is played by a diceman, Grits n' Gravy, who spends all his winnings on PCP. The "angel" in the sketch "It's A Wonderful Chest" attributes his powers to PCP.
In the 1995 film Friday, Chris Tucker's character Smokey mistakenly smokes PCP and develops a twitch that he carries throughout the movie.
Faith No More has an album titled Angel Dust. It was released in 1992.
Also, the popular Jackass cast member "Steve-O" documented his 5 day 'trip' on PCP on his DVD "PCP Saved my Life". He precedes the showing of the tape with an announcement, saying he will never watch the tape of his 'trip', and that he will never take PCP again, he remembers no part of the 5 day trip in which he frequently proclaims that PCP has saved his life.
In Thomas Harris' novel Hannibal, it is described that one of Hannibal Lecter's victims, Mason Verger, performed self-mutilation whilst under the influence of phencyclidine and other drugs that Lecter drugged him with.
Also, in the second season of the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer, in the episode School Hard, the principal of the high school covers up a vampire attack by claiming that the attackers were "gang members on PCP."
In the first manga episodes of City Hunter, Ryo Saeba confronts a mafia group called Union Theope that uses phencyclidine on some of its agents in order to make them more invulnerable.
In the 1983 movie Trading Places, Dan Aykroyd is framed for selling PCP.
'The Simpsons' featured an episode in which Marge is incorrectly drug-tested positive for "crack and PCP".
The late west coast rap legend Tupac mentions PCP in his song "I Ain't Mad at Ya" - "...standin' on the block, wit ya glock, trippin' off sherm..."
In Jonathan Caouette's film "Tarnation", he is said to have smoked a PCP-laced Marijuana joint as a teenager.
In the System of a Down song Stealing Society (From the album Hypontise) there is a lyric "crack pipes, needles, PCP and fast cars, kinda mix really well with a dead movie star." No mention of who the movies star was or if the incident occurred at all.
In the Beastie Boys song "3 Minute Rule" from the album Paul's Boutique there are lyrics by Adrock in which he says "so peace out y'all I'm PCP, so I'm out, full throttle to the bottle and full full clout, and im out".
Rap artist Antron Singleton aka Big Lurch committed cannibalism under the influence of PCP in April 2002 and is currently serving a life sentence.
PCP was also seen on the television show COPS when a naked man who was bleeding punched a hole in fence and was then tackled by many police officers and arrested.
The british pop band Right Said Fred released a song named "Angel Dust" on their 2001 album "Fredhead" in which a woman is compared to the effect of the drug.

External links

References

Anesthetics | Dissociatives | NMDA receptor antagonists | Schedule II controlled substances

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