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Getting Treatment for a PCP Addiction

PCP is a drug in the family of hallucinogens. It is an addictive drug that can cause dependency, and users can develop a tolerance after only a few uses. This tolerance can cause a person to use in larger doses, which can lead to addiction. Once an individual becomes addicted to PCP, they will usually need to undergo PCP addiction treatment in order to stop using.

What is PCP?

PCP is a synthetic drug that comes in pill form, as a white crystalline powder, or as a yellowish liquid. It can be snorted, eaten, or applied to cigarettes and smoked. PCP is a bitter tasting substance that is often dried to increase its appeal. According to the National Drug Intelligence Center, PCP was developed to be used as an intravenous anesthetic in the 1950’s. Patients who were given the drug suffered from agitation, delusions, and irrational behavior. It was eventually pulled from medicinal use because of the mind-altering effects it produced.

PCP is also commonly known as angel dust, peace pill, ozone, rocket fuel, and amp. It is a popular club drug commonly used by college students. The drug is well known for the dissociative state it induces that is characterized by distorted sounds and colors. The effects of the drug vary from person to person depending on the size of the dose. Symptoms of PCP use include:

  • Relaxation
  • Blurred vision
  • Slurred speech
  • Amnesia
  • Confusion
  • Numbness
  • Tingling
  • Excitement
  • Paranoia
  • Delusions
  • Excessive salivation
  • Fever

The problem with PCP is that the drug is unpredictable. It affects each person in different ways and the effects may be different each time it is used. As PCP is manufactured illegally, you never know how much of the drug is actually contained in one dose. Some doses may be more pure than others, which can cause more intense symptoms.

Recognize the Signs of an Overdose

Over time, a user will begin to develop a tolerance for the drug. Larger and larger doses are needed in order for the person to feel the same effects they once did when taking the drug. This can be dangerous because PCP can have dangerous effects when it is used in high doses. Symptoms of overdose include:

  • Coma
  • Fever
  • Seizures
  • Respiratory distress
  • Elevated heart beat
  • High blood pressure
  • Stroke
  • Shallow breathing
  • Numbness
  • Nausea
  • Drooling
  • Dizziness
  • Blurred vision
  • Stiff muscles
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Increased body temperature
  • Death

If someone you know has suffered from a PCP overdose, you should contact 911 immediately. Overdosing on PCP is a warning sign that you need to seek PCP addiction treatment to help you avoid dangerous behavior in the future.

Long-term effects of PCP use can last up to a year after the individual has stopped using. These effects can include depression, weight loss, memory loss, and difficulty with speech or thought.

Available Options for Treatment

Choosing the right treatment program is very important for your successful recovery from PCP addiction. You do not have to go through recovery alone. Drug treatment centers can help monitor your progress and offer you solutions for your addiction problem. Outpatient treatment centers allow you to receive medically supervised treatment during the day, while allowing you to return home every night. This is often the perfect solution for those who have no other addictions or individuals who have just started using PCP and want to stop.

“Inpatient treatment facilities are perfect for individuals who are suffering from more than one addiction.” Inpatient treatment facilities are perfect for individuals who are suffering from more than one addiction. This form of PCP addiction treatment is helpful because it removes the user from peers and other influences that may have contributed to the initial drug use. It also allows the individual to receive treatment in a stress-free environment. Choosing the right treatment center for PCP addiction treatment may seem like a difficult task.

When you suffer from more than one addiction, such as alcohol and PCP, you may need more than one treatment method to help you get over the addiction. Those who suffer from alcohol addiction along with PCP addiction may need medications to help control withdrawal symptoms and cravings for alcohol. These medications are best used in a controlled environment when the person is going through detox. Symptoms of PCP detox include:

  • Insomnia
  • Flashbacks
  • Irritability
  • Anxiety
  • Hallucinations
  • Aggressive behavior
  • Decreased appetite
  • Anti-social behavior
  • Muscle cramps
  • Sweating
  • Chills
  • Convulsions
  • Intense pain

“Other forms of treatment include individual behavior therapy. This type of treatment identifies the root of the problem that may have caused the individual to begin using drugs. “PCP addiction treatment during the detox stage may include anxiety medication to help the individual deal with feelings of depression. Other forms of treatment include individual behavior therapy. This type of treatment identifies the root of the problem that may have caused the individual to begin using drugs. This may have been due to peer pressure, but it can also be the result of escaping from reality or problems you might have. Behavior therapy teaches you how to manage your cravings and prevents you from relapsing. It can also give you strategies to help you cope with stressful situations. Instead of turning to drugs, you are taught to find a new hobby or develop an interest that you may already have. You also learn time management skills so that you have little free time to suffer from boredom, which can also make you start thinking about drugs and relapse.

Group therapy is another option for PCP addiction treatment. This allows the user to meet with others who have gone through drug addiction. You can speak with others who are currently suffering from addiction and are trying to quit. It is often helpful to listen to people who are like you so that you know you are not alone. Group members can support and encourage one another.

Choosing the Right Facility to fit Your Needs

Not all treatment centers are alike. You should choose a treatment center that will best address PCP addiction treatment. Some things to consider when looking for a treatment center are:

  • How long will you have to stay in the facility for treatment?
  • What is the total cost of treatment and will they take your insurance or will you need to pay for it yourself?
  • Are all of the staff members certified? Knowing this will ensure that you get the best treatment as everyone who you meet will be prepared to help you.
  • Will your family be involved in your treatment and recovery process? Will they learn methods to help you when you return home?
  • Has the treatment facility been fully accredited?
  • Does the facility offer drug detoxification?
  • What other forms of treatment do they offer? Will they be able to offer follow-up once you return to your normal life?
  • What is the ratio of patients to members of the staff?
  • Is there a waiting list to get into the facility or will you be allowed to start treatment immediately?
  • What types of philosophies does the center have?
  • How long have they been in business?
  • How does the facility compare with others in the area?

Make sure you visit the treatment facility before you commit to using their program. Your happiness in the facility can often be the determining factor on whether or not your PCP addiction treatment will be successful.

The Rehabilitation Process

Once an addict has successfully gone through PCP detox, they enter the stage of PCP rehab and recovery. This is a lifelong process in PCP addiction treatment, because drug addiction is a disease. An addict generally has a predisposed personality towards addiction. Rehabilitation and recovery usually involve a continuation of treatment that the person went through during detoxification, but on a less intense level. Individual therapy is used to help a person talk about normal life stressors and events that may push them towards relapse. Therapy also allows the recovering addict a chance to talk about any problems they may be having in dealing with fighting any recurring cravings or desires to relapse. The therapist is trained to identify any warning signs and can help redirect the person away from those desires. It is extremely important to keep all appointments with your therapist while you are in the rehabilitation and recovery stage.

Family InterventionFamily therapy is often needed when a recovering addict comes home from treatment. Often, families enable drug use because they put up walls to protect themselves from the abusive behavior. This allows the addict to continue his or her behavior, because he or she is not held accountable. Family therapy helps family members recognize the danger signs of relapse and how to handle any relapse in the event that it occurs. Therapists will give families information on who to contact in the event that a relapse should ever happen, and help family members learn to be supportive during the recovery process.

Recovery groups also help a person during rehab. Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotic’s Anonymous groups are often available for those who have suffered from addiction. These groups help to build self-esteem and confidence so that the recovering addict has the ability to remain drug free. These groups are twelve-step programs that provide a guideline to getting through PCP addiction treatment. The basis for most twelve-step programs includes:

  1. Admit that you are powerless over your addiction.
  2. Admit that a higher power can help you overcome the addiction if you turn it over to Him.
  3. Make a conscious decision to turn your life over to God.
  4. Take inventory of yourself.
  5. Admit that you have a problem.
  6. Ask God to remove defects of character.
  7. Ask God to remove shortcomings.
  8. Make a list of everyone who you have hurt and how you will make restitution.
  9. Go to those individuals and ask for forgiveness.
  10. Continue to take inventory of yourself through the process of recovery.
  11. Pray and meditate daily.
  12. Help others who are suffering from addiction

The purpose of these twelve steps is to give addicts something to concentrate on other than themselves and their past addictions. It helps them push forward so that they can start helping others through the process of PCP addiction treatment. It also allows them to understand just how hurtful and dangerous their past life was, not only to themselves but also to those around them.

Recovery groups generally meet once a week. They are free to anyone who would like to join. The only requirement of AA, NA, and other recovery groups is that the individual be a recovering addict. They offer activities and retreats so that addicts can continue to communicate with others who are going through similar circumstances.

If you or someone you love has questions concerning PCP addiction treatment, call the free national referral hotline at in order to find help. Calls are always confidential, private, and secure.

Factoid:

The symptoms of PCP often mimic that of schizophrenia.

According to the National Drug Intelligence Center, even a small amount of PCP can negatively affect hormones connected with normal growth and development in young people.

PCP is in the same class of drugs as cocaine and methamphetamine.

PCP can stay in the body for up to 50 hours after the last dose.

An individual who goes through a twelve-step program has twice the success rate of those individuals who do not.

The contaminants in PCP give it its texture. PCP in its purest form is light and powdery. When it is saturated with contaminants, it can often appear brown and gummy.

PCP is often used by users of LSD when they have a hard time finding the drug or if they have nothing else to take.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, nearly two percent of all high school seniors use PCP regularly.

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