Phencyclidine

Phencyclidine (a shortened version of the chemical name phenylcyclohexylpiperidine), usually called PCP, is an illegal drug. PCP is called a hallucinogenic drug: it causes people to hallucinate, and see, hear, and sense things that are not real. PCP is neurotoxic. It causes changes to the brain that can leave permanent damage. Before people started using PCP as an illegal drug, it was used as an anesthetic.^[1]

PCP is a white powder, made of tiny crystals. It dissolves easily in water or alcohol. PCP has many slang or 'street names'; the most common is "angel dust". Other slang names for PCP are angel hair, angel mist, aurora borealis, black whack, crystal, cyclones, devil dust, dummy dust, embalming fluid, hallucinogen, horse tranquilizer, jet fuel, magic dust, rocket fuel, or star dust. PCP is sometimes mixed with marijuana and called love boat or killer weed. PCP can also be mixed with crack; this is called "space basing". Cigarettes can also be dipped in PCP; this is called a sherm.

1. ↑ Malenka R.C; Nestler E.J. & Hyman S.E. 2009. Chapter 15: Reinforcement and addictive disorders. In Sydor A. & Brown R.Y. Molecular neuropharmacology: a foundation for clinical neuroscience. 2nd ed, New York: McGraw-Hill Medical, 374–375. ISBN 9780071481274