Question

What is PCP? Explain why it is more dangerous than LSD and use references to back-up your answer. (Minimum 2 paragraph) psychology question

Answer 1

PCP stands for phencyclidine which is a powerful, dissociative sedative drug. Although it was originally intended to be an anaesthetic, but in the 1950s it's side effects were found to be too severe for it to be suitable for human use and so any research and further development was discontinued. This drug has hallucinogenic properties, it generally produce visual and auditory distortions, as well as perceptual changes. While it's dissociative effects can result in a feeling of detachment from self or the world around. For e.g. someone might feel temporarily divorced from reality, or that their body is not their own.

Like PCP, LSD is also classified as a hallucinogen, yet PCP is considered far more dangerous than LSD, mainly because it can produce violent or bizarre behavior in people who are not normally that way. This behavior can lead to death from drowning, burns, falls (sometimes from high places), and automobile accidents (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 1984). Also a study¹ by David B. Graeven,Jeffrey G. Sharp &Stephen Glatt showed that heavy chronic users experience negative ideations (thoughts about suicide and death) and they were also more likely to experience violent effects.

And data suggest that PCP use may be associated with greater violence perpetration than cannabis use alone or in conjunction with problematic alcohol use². People using PCP often misinterpret and distort calm situations as confrontational and respond with violence or they think themselves impervious to harm, which can lead to accidental injuries and death. For example, someone will think they can cross a street quickly enough to avoid the traffic, only to be hit by a car.

References :

1. Graeven D.B., Sharp J.G., Glatt S. 1981 Acute effects of phencyclidine (PCP) on chronic and recreational users. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse 8(1): 1–5.

2. Crane, C. A., Easton, C. J., & Devine, S. (2013). The Association between Phencyclidine Use and Partner Violence: An Initial Examination. Journal of Addictive Diseases, 32(2), 150–157.