Learn About Drugs: PCP and Ketamine

Fencyklidin (PCP)

In the mid 50s, PCP was tried as a intravenous anesthetic at hospitals. All though it worked out as planned, the negative side effects turned out to be unacceptable. PCP was removed as an anaesthetic and is seldom used in medical purposes on humans. PCP was however still used as by veterinarians on animals. As a drug, PCP has been used since the late 60s.

Among drug users PCP is called “Angel dust”. It usually comes in a pill or white powder that the user mixes with water. Besides swallowing, PCP can be “snorted” through the nose or smoked with cannabis.

Effects

The effect PCP will kick in after a few minutes after the intake and will last for a few hours. Effects are usually unpredictable and may may many times not be considered to give a “good trip” (and thus not a very popular drug). These are some of the effects that may occur:

• Dissorted reality

• High body temperature

• Increased blood pressure

Ketamine

Like PCP, Ketamine was developed in the early 60s for anesthetic used in medical operations on humans and animals. It’s available in many countries for injection, but like PCP the Ketamine is normally used by drug users in form of white powder. The powder can be “Snorted” through the nose, injected or drunk when mixed with fluids.

Effects

The use of Ketamine will give similar effects to PCP, but some differences will be:

• Hallucinations

• Dream-like experience

• “near death”- or “out of body”- experiences (usually with higher dose)

Learn more about drugs

• Cannabis – Marijuana, Hashish, Hash oil

• Central Depressive Drugs – Benzodiazepines, GHB

• Central Stimulants – Amphetamine, Methamphetamine, Cocaine, Khat

• Hallucinogenic Drugs – LSD, Ecstasy, Phenethylamines, Magic Mushrooms, Peyote Cactus

• Inhaled Drugs – Butane Gas, Poppers

• Opiates – Opium, Morphine, Heroin, Methadone, Subutex, Suboxone, Fentanyl

• How to see signs of drug addiction