LSD and PCP
PCP (Phencyclidine) and LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide) are both hallucinogen drugs. PCP is 100% made of chemical substances and is only produced in drug laboratories, while LSD derives from fungus (latin word for mushroom) (Health Canada).
Facts
- Historically, PCP was medically used as an anesthetic for humans in the 1950s before doctors realized the side effects were too severe (Health Canada);
- LSD is such a strong substance that one small tablet is enough for about 3000 doses (Health Canada);
- LSD users are subjected to bad trips. A “bad trip” refers to a very disturbing experience where the user enters a panic state, doesn’t want to feel the effects of the drug anymore, but cannot stop it (Parlons Drogue).
Street Names
PCP: Angel Dust, Fairy dust, Killer Weed, Peace Pill, Elephant:
- With pot: Killer Joints, Killer Weed or Crystal Supergrass;
- Dipping PCP with cigarettes or joints: Smoking Wet or Wetting it up;
- With crack: Space Base;
LSD: Acid, blotters or blotter acid, battery acid, microdots or dots
How it works
PCP and LSD travel through the bloodstream to reach the brain. They both affect a different chemical in the brain but produce very similar effects.
PCP is a white crystalline powder and can be made into a liquid or in a pill/tablet form. LSD can be sold on the street as a powder, in tablets or it can be dissolved in liquid. Blotters are the most common form of LSD; they consist of small squares of paper with colorful patterns or designs soaked in liquid LSD.
Side Effects
LSD and PCP produce very similar side effects:
- Distortion of body perception (weightlessness), time and space
- Perceptual distortions
- Delirium
- Hallucinations
- Psychosis
Long term use of PCP can cause permanent memory loss, speech impairment, impaired thinking, anxiety and depression. It is important to note that there is no treatment for an overdose of PCP. An overdose will most likely cause convulsions, coma and hypothermia and could even result in death.
LSD can cause some long-term effects even after using it only once. Psychosis has been reported in both regular and first-time users. The condition can last for years even when they are no longer using LSD. Another effect is called “flashbacks” and it happens when users keep re-living the same emotional experiences and distortions they did when they were high.
For more information on side effects, visit Health Canada’s webpages on PCP and LSD.
Tolerance and Dependence
Though PCP and LSD don’t cause any physical dependence, it does cause a psychological addiction. Regular users are more likely to reach a point where they feel like they need the drug and can’t do without it. No withdrawal symptoms have been reported.
The tolerance level to LSD increases very quickly after a few days of constant use and the consumer will have difficulty achieving the same effects as their first use, no matter how much they ingest (Health Canada).
Laws
In Canada, LSD and PCP are governed by the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Unlawful possession, traffic, production, and any other related drug activities are considered criminal offences.
What you can do
If you have more questions regarding this drug or any other hallucinogens, please talk to your doctor, community health center, a parent and/or school counsellor. If you or someone you know is using or has an addiction to one of those substances, call Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868, they will know where to guide you for help.
Links
DrugsNot4me: LSD
DrugsNot4me: PCP
Health Canada: LSD
Health Canada: PCP
Parlons drogue: LSD (English)
Parlons drogue: PCP (English)
