PROPOXYLENE AND PHENCYCLIDINE (PCP) USE IN ADOLESCENTS

• NCJ Number: 58083
• Journal: Journal of Clinical Psychiatry Volume: 39 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1978) Pages: 7-13
• Author(s): M A SCHUCKIT; E R MORRISSEY
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: Clinical Psychology Publishing Co
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

DATA REVEAL THAT USE OF PHENCYCLIDINE (PCP) IS LIKLEY TO OCCUR IN PEOPLE WITH ALCOHOL AND DRUG PROBLEMS, AND IS USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH AN ANTISOCIAL PERSONALITY.

Abstract

PROPOXYPHENE IS A SYNTHETIC ANALGESIC WHICH IN LARGE DOSES CAN BECOME ADDICTIVE. IT CAN BE LETHAL BECAUSE OF RESPIRATORY SUPPRESSION AND CONVULSIONS. PCP IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE HIGH DOSES CAN PRODUCE PSYCHOSIS, PARANOIA, AND HALLUCINATIONS. VERY LARGE DOSES CAN CAUSE DECREASED RESPIRATION, GROSS MOTOR SEIZURES, AND COMAS. IN THE STUDY TO DETERMINE THE PREVALENCE OF THE USE OF EITHER OR BOTH OF THESE DRUGS AMONG THEM, A GROUP OF ADOLESCENTS WERE EXAMINED, SELECTED FOR THE OCCURRENCE OF PROBLEMS RELATED TO ALCOHOL. THE SAMPLE CONSISTED OF 365 ADOLESCENTS REFERRED TO THE COURT OF KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON, FOR ALCOHOL COUNSELING FOLLOWING ALCOHOL-RELATED OFFENSES. RESULTS SHOWED THAT 26 PERCENT HAD USED EITHER PROPOXYPHENE OR PCP, ALONE OR BOTH DRUGS TOGETHER. THE SAMPLE WAS DIVIDED INTO FOUR GROUPS; ALL WERE FROM THE MIDDLE CLASS. INDIVIDUALS WHO USED THESE DRUGS WERE DISTINCT FROM NONUSERS. IF ONE OF THE TWO SUBSTANCES WAS TAKEN, INDIVIDUALS REPORTED MORE ANTISOCIAL, ALCOHOL AND DRUG PROBLEMS THAN FOR THOSE WHO TOOK NEITHER. USE OF BOTH DRUGS TOGETHER WAS FOUND IN THE GROUP THAT HAD THE HIGHEST RATE OF SERIOUS PROBLEMS, ONE-THIRD OF THE COMBINED DRUG GROUP MET THE CRITERIA FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF THE ANTISOCIAL PERSONALITY. ONLY A MINORITY OF ANY GROUP MET THE CRITERIA FOR ANY PSYCHIATRIC DISORDER, INCLUDING ALCOHOLISM. THOSE LABELED AS ANTISOCIAL PERSONALITIES HAD SERIOUS ANTISOCIAL PROBLEMS IN ALL LIFE AREAS BEGINNING PRIOR TO AGE 16. THESE YOUTHS DEMONSTRATED THE POOREST SELFCONTROL AND JUDGMENT AND HAD THE WORST PROGNOSIS. SLIGHTLY BETTER OUTCOMES CAN BE PREDICTED FOR THOSE WHO USE ONE, BUT NOT BOTH OF THE DRUGS AND IT CAN BE ESTIMATED THAT THE LOWEST LEVEL OF FUTURE PROBLEMS EXIST FOR ADOLSECENTS ARRESTED FOR ALCOHOL-RELATED OFFENSES WHO DID NOT USE EITHER OF THE TWO DRUGS. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (STB)