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PCP (phencyclidine) was developed in the

1950s as an intravenous anesthetic. Its

use in humans was discontinued in 1965,

because patients often became agitated,

delusional, and irrational while recovering from its anesthetic effects. PCP is illegally manufactured in laboratories and is

sold on the street by such names as angel

dust, ozone, wack, and rocket fuel. Killer

joints and crystal supergrass are names

that refer to PCP combined with marijuana. The variety of street names for PCP

reflects its bizarre and volatile effects.

PCP is a white crystalline powder that is

readily soluble in water or alcohol. It has

a distinctive bitter chemical taste. PCP can

be mixed easily with dyes and turns up

on the illicit drug market in a variety of

tablets, capsules, and colored powders.

It is normally used in one of three ways:

snorted, smoked, or ingested. For smoking, PCP is often applied to a leafy material such as mint, parsley, oregano, or

marijuana.

Health Hazards ———

PCP is addictive—its repeated use can

lead to craving and compulsive PCP-seeking behavior. First introduced as a street

drug in the 1960s, PCP quickly gained a

reputation as a drug that could cause bad

reactions and was not worth the risk.

After using PCP once, many people will

not knowingly use it again. Others attribute their continued use to feelings of

strength, power, invulnerability, and a

numbing effect on the mind. 

Many PCP users are brought to emergency rooms because of PCP overdose or

because of the drug’s unpleasant psychological effects. In a hospital or detention

setting, these people often become violent

or suicidal and are very dangerous to

themselves and others. They should be

kept in a calm setting and not be left

alone.

At low to moderate doses, physiological

effects of PCP include a slight increase in

breathing rate and a pronounced rise in

blood pressure and pulse rate. Breathing

becomes shallow, and flushing and profuse sweating occur. Generalized numbness of the extremities and loss of muscular coordination also may occur. 

At high doses of PCP, blood pressure,

pulse rate, and respiration drop. This may

be accompanied by nausea, vomiting,

blurred vision, flicking up and down of

the eyes, drooling, loss of balance, and

dizziness. High doses of PCP can also

PCP (Phencyclidine)
cause seizures, coma, and death (though

death more often results from accidental

injury or suicide during PCP intoxication).

High doses can cause symptoms that

mimic schizophrenia, such as delusions,

hallucinations, paranoia, disordered

thinking, a sensation of distance from

one’s environment, and catatonia. Speech

is often sparse and garbled.

People who use PCP for long periods

report memory loss, difficulties with

speech and thinking, depression, and

weight loss. These symptoms can persist

up to a year after stopping PCP use.

Mood disorders also have been reported.

PCP has sedative effects, and interactions

with other central nervous system depressants, such as alcohol and benzodiazepines, can lead to coma.

Extent of Use ———

2004 Monitoring the Future (MTF)

Survey*

MTF data show that in 2004, 1.6 percent

of high school seniors reported lifetime**

use of PCP; annual use was reported by

0.7 percent of seniors, and 30-day use

was reported by 0.4 percent. Data on

PCP use by 8th- and 10th-graders are

not available.

2002 Drug Abuse Warning

Network (DAWN)***

PCP mentions in emergency departments

increased 28 percent from 1995 to 2002.

There was a 42 percent increase from

the 5,404 mentions in 2000 to 7,648 in

2002. There were significant increases

in PCP mentions in Washington DC,

Newark, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and

Dallas. Chicago had a decrease in mentions of PCP, declining 48 percent from

874 in 2001 to 459 in 2002. 

2003 National Survey on Drug

Use and Health (NSDUH)****

According to the 2003 NSDUH, 3.0 percent of the population aged 12 and older

have used PCP at least once. Lifetime use

of PCP was highest among those aged 35

or older (3.6 percent), compared with

people 26 or older (3.3 percent), 18 to

25 (3.0 percent) and those aged 12 to 17

(0.8 percent).

Rates of lifetime use among 12- or 13-

year-olds decreased significantly from

2002 to 2003. Past month use decreased

among 14- or 15-year-olds, but increased among 16- or 17-year-olds.

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* These data are from the 2004 Monitoring the Future Survey, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National

Institutes of Health, DHHS, and conducted by the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research. The survey has

tracked 12th-graders’ illicit drug use and related attitudes since 1975; in 1991, 8th- and 10th-graders were added to

the study. The latest data are online at www.drugabuse.gov. 

** “Lifetime” refers to use at least once during a respondent’s lifetime. “Annual” refers to use at least once during the year

preceding an individual’s response to the survey. “30-day” refers to use at least once during the 30 days preceding an

individual’s response to the survey.

*** The latest data on drug abuse-related hospital emergency department (ED) visits are from the 2002 DAWN report,

from HHS’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. These data are from a national probability

survey of 437 hospital EDs in 21 metropolitan areas in the U.S. during the year. For detailed information from DAWN,

visit www.samhsa.gov/statistics/statistics.html, or call the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information at

1-800-729-6686. 

**** The 2003 NSDUH, produced by HHS’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, creates a new

baseline for future national drug use trends. The survey is based on interviews with 67,784 respondents who were interviewed in their homes. The interviews represent 98 percent of the U.S. population age 12 and older. Not included in the

survey are persons in the active military, in prisons, or other institutionalized populations, or who are homeless. Findings

from the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health are available online at www.DrugAbuseStatistics.samhsa.gov.

National Institutes of Health – U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

This material may be used or reproduced without permission from NIDA. Citation of the source is appreciated.