How Long Does PCP Stay in Your System?

Recovering from a substance use disorder is as much a psychological process as it is physical. Those in recovery often find themselves battling within their own minds with negative thought patterns. Feelings of worthlessness eat away at one’s self-esteem. Often, negative thoughts can fuel crippling anxiety and depression, driving many people back to drugs.

People who have dark, intrusive thoughts find that their negative outlook on life is often at the root of their addictive behaviors. Without overcoming negative thoughts, many of those in recovery end up relapsing and returning to their old habits.

The key to successful and lasting recovery is learning how to control your thoughts – how to stop negative self-talk and challenge negative thoughts when they come up, rather than uncritically accepting them. Thankfully, with the right approach and support system in place, it is possible to overcome negative thinking and achieve successful addiction recovery.

What Is PCP?

PCP stands for phencyclidine, a hallucinogenic drug that was initially developed as an anesthetic in the 1950s. Due to the high incidence of postoperative delirium in patients, it’s no longer used for any medical purposes in the United States. Instead, it’s now largely used as a recreational drug.

On the street, PCP goes by several names, primarily Angel Dust or “Sherm” (short for Sherman). As one of its nicknames implies, PCP is commonly available as a powder. However, it can also take the form of a liquid, crystal, tablet, or capsule. It’s usually smoked, snorted, or consumed orally, and is often combined with other drugs such as marijuana.

Almost 2.5% of those aged 12 and older have reported taking PCP at some point in their lives. Due to its dangerous effects and addictive nature, it’s classified as a Schedule II substance under the Controlled Substances Act, alongside methamphetamine and cocaine.

What Are the Effects of PCP?

PCP is known for its unpredictable and potentially dangerous effects, which can vary widely based on dosage, individual sensitivity, and the context in which it is used.

PCP effects can be broken down into two categories: physical and mental.

In this article, we’ll go over negative thinking patterns, examples of negative thoughts, and how to stop spiraling into negative thinking.

Physical effects of PCP include:

• Increased heart rate and blood pressure
• Muscle rigidity
• Seizures
• Reduced or eliminated sensitivity to pain
• Involuntary eye movements
• Reduced coordination and balance, resulting in unsteady gait or stumbling.

Psychological effects of PCP include:

• Visual, auditory, or tactile hallucinations
• Dissociation: Like ketamine, PCP can cause feelings of detachment from oneself and one’s environment, as well as a sense of disconnection between thoughts, emotions, and actions.
• Altered perceptions of time and space
• Euphoria
• Paranoia and anxiety

There are also long-term effects to abusing PCP.

Repeated abuse of the drug can lead to changes in brain structure, with memory and concentration issues as a result, as well as difficulty with abstract reasoning.

Chronic PCP abuse has also been linked to an increased risk of developing depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. In some cases, people with a long history of PCP abuse have reported recurring delusions and hallucinations, even when not using the drug.

It is important to note that the effects of PCP can be unpredictable, and individuals may have very different experiences with the drug. Moreover, the combination of PCP with other substances, particularly alcohol or other drugs, can exacerbate its effects and increase the risk of dangerous or life-threatening outcomes.