Phencyclidine(PCP) is considered as a disseminative drug as it gives a feel that mind gets separated from the body. Several short-term and long-term health effects are seen with PCP abuse.
Effects of PCP on Brain:
Interaction between nerve cells and neurotransmitter serotonin is disrupted. This may result in distortion of perceptions of sound and sight. The perceptual and regulatory system is affected by it resulting in changes in mood. It is responsible for increasing hunger and body temperature.
Short-term Effects of PCP:
Mood disturbances and anxiety are the most casual effects of PCP. The drug abuse increases rate of breathing, blood pressure and also pulse. At times, the user may feel shallowness in breathing in combination with copious sweating. The abilities of thinking and communication are disturbed by PCP abuse. Low and moderate dose of PCP abuse causes numbness of extremities. It also impairs muscle coordination. PCP consumption in adolescents interferes with hormones that are related to growth, development, and learning process.
Hallucinations, seizures, coma and even death may arise because of high dosage of PCP abuse. Some other effects include drooling, loss of balance, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, loss of balance and dizziness. It may also cause delusions, distorted thinking, paranoia, and catatonia.
PCP abuse causes muscle contractions leading to uncoordinated movements and bizarre postures. When a person uses the drug frequently, muscle contractions become severe and may result in bone fracture or kidney failure. This is because of the break down of muscle cells.
Long-Term Effects:
Psychological dependence and craving are associated with long-term use of PCP. Memory loss, depression, difficulty in speech and thinking, and weight loss are some of the effects of PCP on people who are consuming the drug since long time. It also reports mood disorders. These effects may be seen for a year after drug consumption.
It is therefore essential for parents to make them aware of dangerous effects of PCP abuse. Necessary steps are to be taken for preventing them to get addicted to the drug.
i’v been smoking pcp for years & the info that I got today on this site opened my eyes up to the effects of long term use. I had no idea of al the ways this drug can be used & all the different names it goes by. I will definitely pass on everything that I’v learned.