PCP Addiction Treatment

Known on the street by names like “angel dust,” “super grass,” “embalming fluid,” and “rocket fuel,” PCP (phencyclidine) is a powerful mind-altering drug. It can have hallucinogenic, stimulant, or anesthetic effects, depending on how much a person uses.

PCP was originally created as a surgical anesthetic in the 1950s. But doctors soon realized that some patients experienced severe post-surgery issues related to the drug, such as anxiety, irrational thinking, mania, or hallucinations.

By 1965 the drug was discontinued. But selling PCP didn’t become illegal until 1978. Today, PCP is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance alongside drugs like cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. It can be smoked, snorted, swallowed, or injected.

Like many illicit substances, PCP can be addictive, which means that repeated drug use can lead to tolerance, which means you need more and more drug use to achieve the same effect. If this phenomenon becomes extreme, you may need to engage in substance abuse just to avoid PCP withdrawal symptoms rather than to get high at all.

Also known as substance use disorder, PCP addiction can pose a serious danger to a person’s physical health as well as their mental health for reasons that are explored further below. Despite PCP’s “angel dust” nickname, the drug is in actuality a demon in need of exorcism at the appropriate PCP treatment program.

If you keep reading, you’ll learn more about PCP abuse as well as about Reco Intensive’s outpatient treatment programs, which provide support to not only those struggling with PCP addiction but with any form of drug use. Perhaps a treatment overview and an introduction to us as a treatment provider will be just the inspiration you need to rethink your PCP use and get back on the path to a life free of drug addiction.

What happens when someone takes PCP?

PCP alters a person’s perception of reality and can cause hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there). Because it is a dissociative drug, for some people it also induces a trance-like state or a feeling of detachment from the body.

Some people have a positive reaction to PCP and experience feelings of euphoria or joy while high. But others experience severe anxiety, panic, or paranoid delusions or hallucinations, especially with higher doses.

These higher doses may also result in a sense of mania and invulnerability to pain that can fuel violent behavior, making PCP users very dangerous to both others and themselves. Adverse consequences alleged to have been caused by PCP use are sometimes as extreme as an angel dust user jumping in front of a moving car.

What are the short-term and long-term effects of PCP abuse?

Using PCP affects neurotransmitters (chemicals) in the brain related to mood, including dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. PCP also blocks certain receptors in the brain associated with learning, memory, and feelings of pain.

PCP can impair a person’s muscle coordination and cloud their ability to think clearly. In larger doses, the drug has been known to cause psychotic episodes that can lead a person to become violent. It can also make psychotic symptoms worse in people with a preexisting mental illness like schizophrenia.

Short-term effects of PCP abuse may include:

• Rise in blood pressure, body temperature, and heart rate (low doses)
• Drop in blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing (large doses)
• Euphoria
• Hallucinations
• Feelings of detachment
• Loss of sensation, including the ability to feel pain
• Anxiety, agitation, and mood swings
• Dizziness, nausea, and vomiting
• Numbness in the hands, feet, arms, or legs
• Poor coordination
• Bloodshot eyes
• Rapid eye movements
• Rapid and shallow breathing
• Slurred speech
• Bizarre behavior
• Aggression
• Paranoia
• Delusions of super strength

The effects of PCP are hard to predict because the drug is illegal and is often mixed with other drugs and various harmful substances—users never really know exactly what they’re getting when they request “embalming fluid” or “angel dust.”

PCP overdose can also cause coma or death, so you should contact a treatment provider if you suspect that someone using PCP has gone too far.

Long-term risks of using PCP (which can last for up to a year after PCP use) include:

• Flashbacks
• Stuttering or difficulty with speech
• Problems with memory or reasoning
• Mental health problems like anxiety and depression
• Suicidal thoughts
• Toxic psychosis that leads to hostility, delusions, and paranoiaUnfortunately, some evidence suggests that some PCP users may never fully recover from their PCP abuse, as angel dust can cause lasting brain damage. Thus, entering a substance use disorder treatment program as soon as possible is of the utmost importance for anyone with PCP addiction, and our treatment center is a perfect choice.

PCP Withdrawal and Substance Abuse Treatment at RECO Intensive

PCP withdrawal symptoms can include strong cravings, confusion, elevated body temperature, blood pressure changes, muscle twitching, agitation, hallucinations, and, in some cases, seizures. While distressing, these symptoms usually aren’t life-threatening. Still, inpatient treatment may be the best choice during initial treatment for PCP addiction so that medical staff can intervene if a medical emergency does occur.

If you or a loved one is struggling with PCP addiction, getting the right help is vital.

At our treatment center, RECO Intensive provides medically supervised PCP medical detox services overseen by licensed clinicians and therapists. Withdrawal symptoms from PCP can be intense, and we do everything possible to keep our clients comfortable and safe.

However, enduring acute withdrawal symptoms is just the first step for most people recovering from a substance use disorder. Those struggling with drug addiction often have a history of trauma or abuse and mask the pain with drugs or alcohol. Getting the right support and finding new, healthy ways to cope with emotional triggers are vital to the healing process.

RECO Intensive offers different levels of care for every need, from outpatient options that allow you to continue working or going to school, to residential programs that provide 24-hour support and monitoring.

Our admissions staff will work closely with you to understand your needs, history, and goals to create a personalized treatment plan that’s right for you. As a treatment provider, we are uniquely focused on creating an empathetic and enriching environment and healing the whole person spiritually, mentally, and physically.

Known as one of the best treatment centers in the area and beyond, our rehab program incorporates a wide variety of treatment options backed by the latest substance abuse research, starting with individual therapy. We also incorporate group therapy, family therapy, and a wide variety of holistic treatment options into our PCP addiction treatment process.

Our outpatient rehab center also encourages attendance at outside support groups, giving patients the chance to connect with the wider recovery community and setting the stage for them to develop lifelong healthy habits.

At least one drug counselor providing addiction treatment services at our rehab center will also be capable of rendering medical advice regarding the appropriate medication for any co-occurring disorders of mental health that may be complicating an individual’s PCP addiction.

We also offer ongoing treatment services to our alumni in the form of weekly meetings at our treatment facility. And, of course, one can think of a few outpatient treatment locations more exciting and enriching than scenic Delray Beach.

Our addiction treatment facilities are also accredited by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers, the National Institute of Health, the Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association, and a variety of other organizations with expertise in American addiction centers. For patient reflections on the life-changing care, our rehab facility offers to those who abuse PCP and other drugs, you can also check out our testimonial page.

Though it can be scary to seek treatment for PCP addiction or any other form of drug use, a life spent enslaved to substance addiction is a far scarier prospect. Instead of letting drug abuse take hold, you can give our treatment programs a chance and fight to reclaim your true self.

If you or one of your family members or loved ones is seeking treatment for PCP addiction, don’t wait another day. Learn more about our Delray Beach PCP rehab center, or call a representative of our rehab centers today at 844.955.3042 for a more extensive treatment overview. Today should be the day that you get back on the road to a brighter future.