Phencyclidine Abuse and Its Effects on Patients Essay

Exclusively available on Available only on IvyPanda® Made by Human No AI

Introduction

People can abuse different types of drugs/substances. Phencyclidine (PCP), a dissociative drug produced synthetically, is one of such substances. This paper presents information given to patients or clients about their use of PCP. It gives them detailed information about why they are experiencing certain symptoms, including what they will experience if they continue to abuse the substance in the future.

Description of PCP

Patients need to know that PCP is no longer used for anesthetics to human beings. It is classified in Schedule II of controlled drugs in the US. The drug was first synthesized in 1926 and traded under the name Serny. In 1950s, it was deployed in general anesthetics in people. It was then adapted for use in veterinary as tranquillizer (National Drug Intelligence Center, 2001).

However, in 1965, evidence-based research indicated that people experienced hallucination, nervousness, and extreme disturbance, as they recovered from its implications (Center for Substance Abuse Research, 2015). Indeed, its use in veterinary has been terminated, despite its continued manufacturing in small proportions for research. Nevertheless, people can still access it. Consequently, they can abuse it, and hence the implications on their health.

Information given to the Patients

Early health implications of abuse of PCP manifest in the form of various symptoms on patients or a person who abuse the drug. People may also consume PCP without their knowledge in situations where they buy ecstasy drugs that contain it (National Drug Intelligence Center, 2001). Center for Substance Abuse Research (2015) reveals, “PCP has been sold under the guise of a number of other drugs, including THC, methamphetamine, mescaline, and LSD” (p.1). The drug can be smoked, infused, consumed through the mouth, or sniffed. Its effects, which are felt between 2-60 minutes, last between 4 to 24 hours, depending on the method of taking it.

The drug causes interruption of the neurotransmitter glutamate. The euphoria caused by PCP is due to its capacity to influence neurotransmitter dopamine’s actions. The use of PCP has other effects such as nervousness, challenges in judgment and attentiveness, and sensory deformation, including hearing and visual delusion and failure to sense space and time in an appropriate way (Center for Substance Abuse Research, 2015).

People who use the drug feel weightless due to the deformation of their capacity to sense their body. They feel dissociated with their environments since they see things in their unreality. PCP is also responsible for drowsiness and relaxation upon consuming it. Other symptoms are hopelessness, perplexity accompanied by bewilderment, aggression, fear and panicking over the awaiting death, and disturbance and repeated suspicious thoughts (Center for Substance Abuse Research, 2015).

Although PCP receives no scholarly support for its capacity to cause addiction due to its continued use, patients will experience additional symptoms if they continue to use/abuse the substance in the future. They include weak memory, flashbacks resembling those associated with chronic cases of LSD abuse, communication problems and severe depression, and/ or trauma (Center for Substance Abuse Research, 2015). People who abuse PCP in the long term withdraw from social groups to live in isolation. Continued use also causes toxic psychosis manifested in the form acoustic illusion, obsession, and expression of hostile behavior accompanied by hostility. They also suffer from speech articulation and stuttering.

Conclusion

Drug abuse may cause addiction. However, there is no evidence of addiction in case of PCP. It is taken through the mouth via insertion, snorting, or smoking. PCP consumption has a negative impact on the victim, irrespective of whether it is taken for a short term or long term. To mitigate its effects as discussed in the paper, people should avoid using the drug.

References

Center for Substance Abuse Research. (2015). Phencyclidine (PCP). Web.

National Drug Intelligence Center. (2001). Information Bulletin: PCP Tablets sold as MDMA (product no. 2001-L0424-003). Washington, DC: Department of Justice.

More related papers Related Essay Examples
Cite This paper
You're welcome to use this sample in your assignment. Be sure to cite it correctly

Reference

IvyPanda. (2020, June 14). Phencyclidine Abuse and Its Effects on Patients. https://ivypanda.com/essays/phencyclidine-abuse-and-its-effects-on-patients/

Work Cited

"Phencyclidine Abuse and Its Effects on Patients." IvyPanda, 14 June 2020, ivypanda.com/essays/phencyclidine-abuse-and-its-effects-on-patients/.

References

IvyPanda. (2020) 'Phencyclidine Abuse and Its Effects on Patients'. 14 June.

References

IvyPanda. 2020. "Phencyclidine Abuse and Its Effects on Patients." June 14, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/phencyclidine-abuse-and-its-effects-on-patients/.

1. IvyPanda. "Phencyclidine Abuse and Its Effects on Patients." June 14, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/phencyclidine-abuse-and-its-effects-on-patients/.


Bibliography


IvyPanda. "Phencyclidine Abuse and Its Effects on Patients." June 14, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/phencyclidine-abuse-and-its-effects-on-patients/.

If, for any reason, you believe that this content should not be published on our website, please request its removal.
Updated:
This academic paper example has been carefully picked, checked and refined by our editorial team.
No AI was involved: only quilified experts contributed.
You are free to use it for the following purposes:
  • To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
  • As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
  • As a template for you assignment
Privacy Settings

IvyPanda uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, enabling functionalities such as:

  • Basic site functions
  • Ensuring secure, safe transactions
  • Secure account login
  • Remembering account, browser, and regional preferences
  • Remembering privacy and security settings
  • Analyzing site traffic and usage
  • Personalized search, content, and recommendations
  • Displaying relevant, targeted ads on and off IvyPanda

Please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy for detailed information.

Required Cookies & Technologies
Always active

Certain technologies we use are essential for critical functions such as security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and ensuring the site operates correctly for browsing and transactions.

Site Customization

Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance your experience by:

  • Remembering general and regional preferences
  • Personalizing content, search, recommendations, and offers

Some functions, such as personalized recommendations, account preferences, or localization, may not work correctly without these technologies. For more details, please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy.

Personalized Advertising

To enable personalized advertising (such as interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. These partners may have their own information collected about you. Turning off the personalized advertising setting won't stop you from seeing IvyPanda ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.

Personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of the information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have the right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy.

1 / 1