The "Angel Dust" States: Phencyclidine Toxicity
Pediatrics in Review – July 01, 1979
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Phencyclidine, initially an anesthetic 30 years ago, quickly became a widespread hallucinogen and drug of abuse, often adulterating psychedelics like mescaline and psilocybin. Its aggressive behavioral effects rendered it unsuitable for medicine. Now a preferred substance, it's consumed in polydrug patterns. Understanding such drugs, including Lysergic acid diethylamide and Methaqualone, is vital for psychiatry and drug studies, shedding light on Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior, like Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors.
Abstract
Phencyclidine (1-[1-phenylcyclohexyl]piperidine, PCP, hog, sheets, angel dust, Sernylan, and many other common names) is a primate anesthetic that has emerged as a common drug of abuse and as a medical emergency problem during the past few years. Phencyclidine abuse is primarily a youthful activity. It is associated with multiple clinical states, an unusual amount of aggressive behavior, and a variety of problems in management.1Thirty years ago phencyclidine was developed as an intravenous anesthetic for humans, but the frequency and intensity of emergence deliriums made it unsuitable. It is currently used as a veterinary anesthetic. Because of the availability of its precursors, its ease of manufacture, and its relative inexpensiveness, it became a common street drug during the late 1960s. At that time it was sold when mescaline, psilocybin, or tetrahydrocannabinol was requested, and it served as a virtually universal adulterant for hallucinogens. Not highly regarded among users of psychedelics, it was only infrequently purchased under its own name. During the past few years the picture has changed. Now it is a preferred substance, the most widely available and used hallucinogen. It usually is consumed as part of a polydrug abuse pattern along with alcohol, sedatives, and marihuana.PREVALENCEThe extent of its usage is not easily assessed, the wide variety of names and of dosage forms make surveys imprecise.