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PCP/Phencyclidine

Brief Description

PCP is a synthetic drug sold as tablets, capsules, or white or colored powder. It can be snorted, smoked, or eaten. Developed in the 1950s as an IV anesthetic, PCP was never approved for human use because of problems during clinical studies, including intensely negative psychological effects.

Street Names

Angel dust, ozone, wack, rocket fuel

Effects

PCP is a "dissociative" drug, distorting perceptions of sight and sound and producing feelings of detachment. Users can experience several unpleasant psychological effects, with symptoms mimicking schizophrenia (delusions, hallucinations, disordered thinking, extreme anxiety).

Statistics and Trends

In 2009, 122,000 Americans age 12 and older had abused PCP at least once in the year prior to being surveyed. Source: National Survey on Drug Use and Health (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration Web Site). The NIDA-funded 2010 Monitoring the Future Study showed that 1.0% of 12th graders had abused PCP at least once in the year prior to being surveyed. Source: Monitoring the Future (University of Michigan Web Site).

Related Publications

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Hallucinogens

Published January 1997. Revised January 2009.
Explains how hallucinogens affect the brain’s communication centers as well as its ability to control sleep and emotions. En Español

Hallucinogens - LSD, Peyote, Psilocybin, and PCP

Revised June 2009.
Provides basic facts about hallucinogens (LSD, peyote, psilocybin, and PCP) including how they are abused, how they affect the brain, other health effects, and treatment options. En Español

Publication Cover

Hallucinogens and Dissociative Drugs

Published March 2001.
Offers the latest research findings on hallucinogens and dissociative drugs, describing what they are, how they are abused, and basic facts about different drugs within this classification of drugs. En Español

Other Resources

Past information on many drugs of abuse is available on our Archives site.

This page was last updated December 2012

Emerging Drugs

Get more information on K2/Spice, Salvia and Bath Salts. NIDA will update this page with the latest research findings on these and other emerging drugs as they develop.

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