PCP (PHENCYCLIDINE) - A DRUG OF VIOLENCE AND DEATH

• NCJ Number: 64142
• Journal: Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 7 Issue: 4 Dated: (DECEMBER 1979) Pages: 459-466
• Author(s): G R NAKAMURA; T T NOGUCHI
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: International Assoc of Chiefs of Police
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE 192 PHENCYCLIDINE-RELATED DEATHS EXPERIENCED IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY IN 1976-78 ARE SUMMARIZED. THE NATURE OF THE DRUG, ITS EFFECTS, AND THE RESULTS OF OVERDOSAGE ARE DESCRIBED.

Abstract

THE STREET DRUG PRECIPITATES DEATHS NOT ONLY BY ACUTE INTOXICATION, BUT BY ACTING AS AN AGENT IN CAUSING TRAFFIC FATALITIES, HOMICIDES, SUICIDES, AND ACCIDENTS; MANY OF THEM ARE DEEMED BIZARRE. THE NIGHTMARISH DRUG REACTIONS TO PHENCYCLIDINE (PCP) ARE EVEN GREATER THAN THOSE EXPERIENCED FROM LSD. WHILE THE DANGER OF THE LATTER LIES IN THE HALLUCINOGENIC FANTASIES OF FLIGHT, THE PCP USERS, ON THE OTHER HAND, REACT IN A THREATENING AND VIOLENT MANNER WHEN CONFRONTED WITH A THREATENING SITUATION. FREQUENTLY, SUCH CONFRONTATIONS HAVE INVITED DEATHS. PCP CAN BE READILY PRODUCED IN CLANDESTINE LABORATORIES AND IS WIDELY AVAILABLE ON THE STREETS IN CIGARETTE FORM, IMPREGNATED ON MINT, PARSLEY, OR MARIJUANA LEAVES. REGULAR CIGARETTES ARE REPORTED TO BE DIPPED IN A SOLUTION OF PCP, DRIED, AND SMOKED. IN 1978, 8,800 DRUG ARRESTS INVOLVING POSSESSION AND SALE OF PCP WERE MADE IN LOS ANGELES; MORE THAN 2,258 EMERGENCY CASES DUE TO PCP WERE REPORTED IN THE SAME YEAR AND 3 DEATHS RESULTED FROM THE DRUG. THE ANTEMORTEM BEHAVIOR PATTERN OF PCP USERS, ACCORDING TO CORONERS' REPORTS, IS CHARACTERIZED BY SCHIZOPHRENIC GRANDIOSITY, AGGRESSIVE AND THREATENING BEHAVIOR, DIMINISHED FEAR, DISORIENTATION, AND CONFUSION. CONVERSELY, THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN REPORTS OF LETHARGY AND WITHDRAWAL. MOREOVER, PCP HAS THE ABILITY TO BLOCK AN INDIVIDUAL'S SENSORY MECHANISM AND MUSCULAR COORDINATION AND TO SERIOUSLY INTERFERE WITH A PERSON'S ABILITY TO SWIM, DRIVE, CLIMB HEIGHTS, FLEE FROM FIRE, OR SENSE IMMINENT DANGER. SINCE PCP IS AN ANALGESIC AS WELL AS AN ANESTHETIC, A USER CAN EXERT SEEMINGLY INCREDIBLE STRENGTH, BE HARMED, AND NOT KNOW HE HAS BEEN HURT. LOW DOSAGES OF THE DRUG PRODUCE EUPHORIAL HALLUCINATIONS. PCP USE IS PREDOMINANT AMONG MALES AGED 20 TO 29 AND WIDESPREAD IN MINORITY COMMUNITIES. SPECIFIC INCIDENTS INVOLVING TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, SUICIDES, AND DROWNINGS ARE DESCRIBED. TABULAR DATA AND FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (MRK)