Author: Gary Jackson
What Is Angel Dust? Side Effects, Use, and Risks
Sudden discontinuation of PCP can cause physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms. Higher doses or frequent use can cause severe depression and anxiety, along with suicidal thoughts and behavior. Combining PCP with other substances, including prescription, over-the-counter (OTC), and other recreational substances, raises the risk of serious effects and overdose. At a lower dose, PCP makes you feel euphoric, floaty, and disconnected from your body and surroundings. As you increase the dose, the effects get more intense, leading to hallucinations and erratic behavior.
Anyone caught producing, distributing, possessing, or using the drug runs the risk of being sent to prison. It is illegally produced in secret laboratories and distributed as a street drug. PCP is known by many other names, including horse tranquilizer. Though it’s no longer approved for use in humans, it’s still sometimes used as a tranquilizer for animals.
Angel Dust Addiction
If you or someone you know is experiencing an addiction to angel dust, you should seek addiction treatment. PCP was initially developed as a general anesthetic for surgery by Parke Davis Pharmaceutical Company. Though it was briefly used in humans, it was soon discontinued due to its psychological and behavioral side effects. PCP is a drug that can cause a variety of physical and psychological symptoms, which often increase in intensity with higher dosages. Feelings of depression and anxiety are common effects, even with low doses of PCP. This is especially true when you mix angel dust and substances that depress the central nervous system (CNS).
For long-term sobriety, transitioning to a residential treatment plan is recommended. Living sober after developing a PCP habit may require intensive therapy and long-term assistance. You can also join a virtual or in-person support group and connect and share with others who’ve been through a similar experience. Currently, there’s no medication available to reduce or block PCP’s effects on your body and overall health. If the effects don’t wear off, it’s important to get medical help right away. People often dissolve the powder or liquid in alcohol or water.
Drugs & Supplements
High doses can cause violent outbursts, vomiting, drooling, or even seizures. When regular use is discontinued, some people may experience withdrawal syndrome. The drug angel dust was initially developed for use as a general anesthetic before it gained traction as a drug of abuse in the 1960s. Angel dust is a Schedule II controlled substance, indicating its high potential for abuse despite its legitimate medical applications.
The consistency can vary from a powder to a moist, almost tarry substance. PCP pills can range in color from white to dark brown and may have various production stamps, all from illicit sources. If you’re unable to resist PCP, talk to your doctor about treatment options such as in-patient recovery.
Recovery and Treatment Options for PCP
Every drug has certain effects that may be part of every cycle of getting high and coming back down. With PCP, euphoria, hallucinations and feelings of detachment and invulnerability may lead to repeat use and eventual addiction. Some sellers may even offer angel dust weed at no upcharge to bring in new customers. A study published by the National Institute of Health found that up to 24% of street marijuana is laced with PCP. Your doctor may also refer you to a live-in addiction recovery center to help you through the next steps. But if you don’t have insurance or your insurance doesn’t cover it, speak to a health advocate at a treatment facility about costs and payment plan options.
You have a sense of unlimited strength and power coupled with not being afraid of anything and the inability to feel pain. Additionally, it is connected with memory loss, involuntary movements, and partial contractions of body muscles. Stories of “dusted” criminals picking up vehicles and fighting off dozens of cops are urban legends, but PCP does numb users’ ability to sense pain. People high on PCP may feel invulnerable and engage in activities that would otherwise hurt them. While overdose deaths from angel dust are rare, accidental deaths from doing dangerous activities while high on angel dust are more common. Angel dust is known as a hallucinogen and a dissociative drug.
If someone experiences a hallucination, they believe the things they see, feel, and hear are real. This distorted reality can lead to dangerous actions a person would not normally take. Today, angel dust is an illegal schedule II controlled substance.
- People who stop ongoing use of PCP experience drug cravings, increased appetite, headaches, sleepiness, depression, and sweating as common withdrawal symptoms.
- It’s often sold in conjunction with other illicit drugs to create a more powerful high and add an addictive element.
- While overdose deaths from angel dust are rare, accidental deaths from doing dangerous activities while high on angel dust are more common.