NCJ Number
62041
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 27 Issue: 7 Dated: (JULY 1979) Pages: 12-27
Date Published
1979
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THE MANUFACTURE, USE, AND EFFECTS OF PHENCYCLIDINE (PCP OR 'ANGEL DUST') ARE EXAMINED, AND A STRATEGY FOR REDUCING ITS MANUFACTURE AND USE IS SUGGESTED.
Abstract
LARGELY DUE TO THE EASE AND LOW COST WITH WHICH PCP CAN BE MANUFACTURED IN MAKESHIFT LABORATORIES BY PERSONS WITH LIMITED TRAINING IN CHEMISTRY AND THE HIGH PRICE IT CAN BRING ON THE MARKET, ITS MARKETING AND USE ARE SPREADING. ITS RADICAL EFFECTS ON THE BRAIN PRODUCE PSYCHOTIC BEHAVIOR, NOTABLY THE DELUSIONS AND VIOLENT BEHAVIOR OF A PARANOID SCHIZOPHRENIC. BECAUSE OF ITS PROFIT POTENTIAL AND THE LOW RISK OF LAW ENFORCEMENT DETECTION, THE ILLICIT DRUG MARKET IS INUNDATED BY PCP, ACCORDING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS AND HOSPITAL PERSONNEL. BECAUSE LITTLE EVIDENCE EXISTS OF ANY PLEASUREABLE EFFECTS DERIVED FROM PCP USE, USERS FREQUENTLY BELIEVE THEY ARE TAKING ANOTHER DRUG FOR THE DESIRED EFFECT. THOSE WHO KNOWINGLY TAKE PCP ARE OFTEN MOTIVATED BY A DESIRE TO DISPLAY THEIR COURAGE AND TOUGHNESS TO PEERS IN THE DRUG SUBCULTURE. THE EFFECTS OF PCP MAKE ITS USERS A DANGER TO THEMSELVES AND CITIZENS WHO MAY BECOME TARGETS OF THE IRRATIONAL BEHAVIOR OF A USER. A STRATEGY TO REDUCE THE MARKETING AND USE OF PCP SHOULD INCLUDE THE PLACING OF PCP INTO SCHEDULE II (FROM SCHEDULE III), ALONG WITH THE PRECURSOR DRUGS USED IN ITS MANUFACTURE, THUS MAKING POSSESSION WITHOUT PROPER AUTHORIZATION A FEDERAL CRIMINAL OFFENSE. THE SENTENCING OF ALL CONVICTED OF THE SELLING OF PCP SHOULD INCLUDE JAIL TERM WHOSE LENGTH CAN DEPEND UPON THE CIRCUMSTANCES INVOLVED. THE INFLUENCE OF PCP AS A DEFENSE FOR THE COMMISSION OF A CRIME SHOULD BE ELIMINATED ALTHOUGH IT MAY BE USED AS A MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCE IN THE DETERMINATION OF A SENTENCE. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND MORE EFFECTIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS MUST PREVENT AND DETER PERSONS FROM THE USE OF PCP. REHABILITATION PROGRAMS CONSISTING OF CRISIS INTERVENTION, DETOXIFICATION, AND AFTERCARE SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED. FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)