What is the Cost of PCP?
PCP, also called phencyclidine or phenylcyclohexyl piperidine, is a highly addictive hallucinogen drug. PCP was legal in the United States when it was used in health care as an anesthetic. However, it was made illegal after discovering its troubling side effects and highly addictive nature. Although this drug is no longer medically available, it is circulated on the streets for $15 per tablet and up to $300 for an ounce of PCP liquid.
This drug has lost popularity and is not currently a drug of choice overseas.
Do you use PCP and struggle to stop? Drug addiction experts at Zinnia Health can help you understand the nature of PCP addiction and develop ways to help you quit without relapse. Call us at (855) 430-9439 to learn more.
What is the Street Cost of PCP?
Phencyclidine was the top illicit drug alongside LSD in the late 80s and early 90s, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). At that time, PCP was sold at a much higher price than now.
PCP goes by the street names:
- Angel Dust
- Wack
- Zoom
- Rocket Fuel
In America, the street price of PCP tablets ranges from $5 to $15 each.
PCP is also sold as a powder or liquid.
PCP powder ranges from $20-$30 for 1 gram and $200-$300 for an ounce of PCP liquid. Some people also purchase “dippers,” which sell at $10-$20 each.
What Factors into the Cost of PCP?
By far, the most expensive PCP is in liquid form. Liquid PCP takes longer to manufacture, and it is more potent than its tablet counterpart.
Other factors that drive the cost of the PCP include:
- Location
- Popularity
What is the PCP Cost in Other Countries?
Although PCP still circulates on the streets in America, it isn’t a popular drug of abuse in other countries.
In an article titled “Why America is the Only Place in the World Where People Use PCP,” Vice stated that scientists synthesized phencyclidine in America around the mid-1950s. The medication began as an anesthetic in the hospitals, but they quickly discontinued its use due to negative health effects —including addiction, which meant PCP never gained traction outside of America.
Search Trends for PCP
PCP is currently not trending in the United States. However, a breakthrough topic of “what is angel dust” trended briefly within the past five years.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How is PCP Abused?
PCP is a bitter-white crystalline substance. People who abuse PCP typically do so in its powder form. They dissolve the powder in water or alcohol before dipping marijuana or tobacco cigarettes into it. They then smoke these cigarettes to get high. Some people mix PCP into oregano before smoking it.
Other forms of illicit PCP use include swallowing tablets or snorting PCP powder.
If you or a loved one has an addiction to PCP, call Zinnia Health at (855) 430-9439 to speak to our operators about treatment options.
Why is PCP Dangerous?
When PCP reaches the bloodstream it makes its way to the brain. Here, it inhibits a neurotransmitter called glutamate.
Glutamate is responsible for:
- Memory
- Emotions
- Perception
Disruptions in this neurotransmitter are what cause users to hallucinate after using PCP.
The severity of these hallucinations isn’t known since it varies from user to user. However, some hallucinations are so severe that they cause the user to detach from reality.
They may harm themselves or others or engage in dangerous activities completely unaware. They might also mix PCP with embalming fluid, MDMA, ketamine or another stimulant like methamphetamine. These combinations could prove fatal.
Distortions in perception can cause severe psychological effects, including suicidal ideations.
Long-term use of street drugs like PCP cause lasting changes in the brain, which result in memory loss, trouble speaking, and depression. These problems may continue for years after quitting PCP.
What is the Legal Status of PCP?
According to the Controlled Substances Act, PCP is currently listed as a Schedule II controlled substance. This means it has a high potential for addiction and it’s not useful in current medical practices. The effects of PCP earned it this classification alongside crack cocaine and Fentanyl. It is currently illegal to possess or distribute PCP in the United States.
Who Abuses PCP?
People of all ages engage in PCP abuse. However, most users of PCP are young. They range from high school students to young adults. Younger users try the drug to trigger its hallucinogenic effects. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), some people abuse dissociative drugs like PCP hoping to improve their mental health.
There are also countless videos online encouraging people to use PCP to elevate their souls or discover different realities. However, they do not explain the dangers of PCP, so people may try it.
How Does PCP Addiction Occur?
Long-term use of drug use builds up tolerance. Tolerance occurs when your brain becomes used to the effects of the drug and dampens them. People who have tolerance to PCP will increasingly use more of the drug to get their desired effects. This is the beginning of a substance use disorder.
A substance use disorder is marked by a continual craving to use the drug despite the harm it causes. People with substance use disorder also suffer from withdrawal when not using the drug.
PCP withdrawal symptoms include a mixture of psychological and physical changes. These include:
- Seizures
- Muscle atrophy
- Muscle twitching (Loss of coordination)
- Depression
- Cognitive issues
- Problems with speech
- Hallucinations
- Mood swings, including agitation
PCP withdrawal symptoms can be managed with medical supervision in a medication detox program. Here, the individual is provided with professional support, group activities, and therapy to detox safely and prevent relapse.
Zinnia Health treatment centers are fully accredited and offer substance abuse treatment programs, such as 12-step and cognitive behavioral therapy. These programs work to tackle each part of the addiction, in a safe environment. If you or someone you know needs rehabilitation for PCP addiction, contact Zinnia Health at (855) 430-9439.