PCP Withdrawal and Detox

PCP Info

• PCP Addiction and Abuse
• PCP Symptoms and Warning Signs
• PCP Treatment and Rehab
• PCP Withdrawal and Detox

PCP Addiction Treatment

PCP (Phencyclidine) is also known by the street name ‘Angel dust’ and is a hallucinogenic, psychoactive drug. It was originally designed to be an anesthetic agent but is currently being abused around the world as a recreational drug.

When used, PCP can in the short-term initially cause you to experience euphoria and other pleasurable sensations. When abused continuously, this dissociative drug can lead to intense addiction and PCP withdrawal in the event you suddenly stop using it. Withdrawal symptoms might be delayed – especially since the drug can take up to eight days or longer to completely leave the body.

The effects of addiction to PCP can lead to long-term health dangers, including mental and behavioral disorders. Given the risks involved with consuming PCP – either occasionally or frequently – using the drug should be avoided altogether. The risks are more pronounced if you’ve been abusing PCP for a long time and have become an addict. If you are a user of PCP or have a loved one who you suspect is using PCP, below are some symptoms that indicate the addiction to the drug has developed:

• A frequent craving or urge to use PCP
• Difficulty in reducing or stopping use of PCP
• Willingness to spend money on PCP, even though doing so puts you at financial risk
• Prioritising purchasing PCP over more important needs
• Continued use of PCP, even though well aware of the dangers and negative effects
• Increasing dereliction of responsibilities at work, home or school
• Prioritising use of PCP over relationships with friends and family
• Development of risky habits, such as driving whilst on PCP
• A continued need to increase PCP dosage in order to achieve the desired ‘high’

PCP has never been considered safe for human consumption. Thus, regardless of its use in small or large amounts, PCP can lead to addiction and further health problems. If you or someone you care for is exhibiting any of the above symptoms of PCP addiction, you should get help as fast as you can. With Addiction Helper, all the help you need is just a phone call away. Call us now on 0800 915 9402 for a friendly conversation and to discuss your options for PCP addiction treatment.

Detox and Withdrawal

After continuous abuse of PCP over a period of time, addiction can easily develop and this will make it difficult to break the habit. Addiction to PCP occurs due to the chemical structure of your brain being modified by the constant influence of the drug. This causes your body to believe it cannot function without the drug in your system. In the event you suddenly stop using PCP, withdrawal symptoms can set in. These symptoms can be uncomfortable and painful enough to make you resume consuming PCP to abate the symptoms of withdrawal.

Some individuals are of the misguided impression that trying to quit PCP and similar hallucinogenic drugs do not require long-term detox or withdrawal support. This is untrue, as the major health and psychological challenges can arise during an unsupervised PCP detox.

Phencyclidine (or PCP) stays in the body longer than most other hallucinogenic drugs do. Due to the substance’s capability to bind to brain tissue, it can lead to long-lasting withdrawal effects that can make it hard for an addict to kick the habit without professional help. What’s even more worrying is that addiction can develop within even a short period of abuse.

Symptoms of withdrawal whilst undergoing PCP detox can include short-term effects such as dangerously high body temperature, muscle breakdown, and seizures. For abusers who have a more severe addiction, withdrawal symptoms like agitation, muscle twitching, acidosis (abnormally high acidity), agitation, and hallucinations can arise.

Long-term withdrawal symptoms, on the other hand, can include depression, impaired cognitive function and memory loss, which can last for a year or more after initial detoxification. In severe cases, weight loss and speech impairment can last for months after detoxification.

Fortunately, all these symptoms can be eased by proper treatment, as long as detoxification is medically assisted by a specialist. If you would like to know more about PCP detox specialists and rehabilitation experts in your area, talk to our caring consultants today.

Withdrawal symptoms are often experienced during the detoxification period, which is an important part of addiction treatment. If substance abuse is longstanding, withdrawal symptoms might include pervasive mental and physical health issues. This is why we recommend that rather than try detoxing on your own, professional help should be sought at a treatment center, where detox can be safely monitored and managed by healthcare professionals. A structured detox treatment will ensure your system is completely cleared of all PCP related toxins and that unpleasant withdrawal symptom are mitigated.

Depending on the severity of your addiction – or your preference – you can seek PCP withdrawal treatment either via an inpatient or outpatient treatment. Inpatient treatment is recommended for people with severe addiction, who might face triggers that can lead to further PCP abuse if outside of a facility. The programme will require you to stay at the facility throughout the duration of your treatment. You’ll be provided round-the-clock care in an environment that lets you focus solely on getting sober and learning to cope with a life free of substance abuse.

Outpatient programmes are more open and less intensive than inpatient ones. You can leave the treatment facility and only need to come in for treatment and counselling. The downside of an outpatient programme is that once outside the facility, you have to face the triggers and stressors that led you to abuse PCP in the first place. This is why outpatient programmes are better suited for individuals who have a less severe addiction.

To discover more about the varying types of PCP addiction withdrawal treatments that can save your life (or that of a loved one), talk to an Addiction Helper treatment advisor today by dialling 0800 915 9402.

PCP Withdrawal: Symptoms and Side Effects

Substance abuse can alter your ability to reason clearly, as well as exercise good judgment. This issue can become more severe during withdrawal symptoms, as your brain struggles to function without the influence of the drugs it has grown accustomed to. Your mind will also try to rationalize the various reasons why you should resume abusing drugs. This is no different for PCP addicts, as their brain and body will react with unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if they refuse to use the drug after the last dose has left their system.

The symptoms of PCP withdrawal are varied, and in severe cases can be dangerous. This is why we recommend that detoxification is applied under the supervision of trained medical professionals. Commonly witnessed PCP withdrawal symptoms include:

In worst case scenarios, withdrawal symptoms can result in coma, self-harm/suicide, or even death.

PCP Detox Guide: Symptoms, Timeline, and Effects

The best way to start a detox is to have a good understanding of what to expect. PCP withdrawal can give rise to some disturbing symptoms, the most difficult of which is Anhedonia (an inability to experience pleasure). According to research from Neuropsychopharmacology, Anhedonia is caused by the suppression of your brain’s reward systems, which includes the GABA and dopamine systems. The continued suppression of pleasure responses can make the withdrawal period very trying and the prospect of relapse very tempting, which in turn can lead to an extended withdrawal timeline.

Other symptoms of detox can include: pain, fatigue, anxiety, sleep and thought disturbances, irritability, and depression.

If there are no complications during detox, a typical PCP withdrawal timeline will be as follows:

Keep in mind that all these symptoms can be managed and the detox timeline minimized if the withdrawal process is medically assisted. For a detox process that’s as convenient as possible, please call us now to speak with one of our experts.

PCP Addiction: Treatment Centre and Recovery Programme Options

All available recovery programmes are different, and can be tailored to best suit your circumstances. This is necessary, because a process that helps one addict make a full recovery might not necessarily work for you.

To be able to pick a recovery plan and treatment option that works best for you or your loved one, you need to understand what your options are and what each has to offer. Some of the more commonly applied recovery options can be found below:

• Outpatient treatment: This option is best for people who want to heal from PCP addiction, but don’t want the healing process to get in the way of work, school, or other social activities. This option lets you visit a recovery centre for your scheduled treatment and leave the moment you are finished. Such treatment is only suitable for people with a less than severe addiction.
• Inpatient treatment: Unlike outpatient treatment, you’ll not be able to come and go from an inpatient facility. Inpatient treatment will require you to remain within the premises of the recovery centre for the entire duration. This option is ideal for those with a severe addiction, as it provides an environment where they can focus solely on healing and avoid triggers that might lead to a relapse.
• Individual therapy: This involves a one-on-one therapeutic session, where there’ll be discussions and insights about the underlying causes of your PCP addiction. The treatment also gives you the opportunity to develop coping skills that will help you say ‘No’ tocounselingabuse in the future.
• Group counselling: This involves a mental health professional hosting a group therapy session, where recovering addicts can support one another.
• 12-Step programmes: Narcotics Anonymous is a good example of this type of programme. It is free and members can support one another throughout the recovery process.
• Non-12-Step programmes: Examples include options like SMART Recovery and S.O.S.

Call our supportive and friendly treatment specialists today to find out which PCP recovery option is available near you.

Types of PCP Recovery Centres

Inpatient facilities can be further broken down into luxury, executive, and standard centers. Standard centres provide a conducive environment where addicts can recover without distractions or disturbance.

Luxury inpatient centers offer traditional forms of treatment in a top-notch facility that’s designed to feel like a resort and leave you pampered. Asides from 24/7 medical supervision and care, you’ll also have access to luxury amenities like gourmet meals, massage therapy, and spa treatments.

On the other hand, executive centers are designed to suit the needs of individuals with demanding careers or high-profile positions. People in such categories rarely have free time for personal activities, but the executive treatment center provides a comfortable environment, where individuals can receive quality addiction treatment without it interfering with their professional lives.

Outpatient versus Inpatient

Outpatient and inpatient recovery centers are both suited for providing adequate care to recovering addicts. An inpatient center is the best option if your addiction is severe because your withdrawal symptoms will likely match the severity. This is because, at an inpatient centre, you’ll be provided 24/7 care and support for the entire duration of your stay. So, if there are any health complications during your detox, a medical professional can attend to you promptly. This is not available at an outpatient center, as you only come in for your treatment and leave when it’s completed.

On the other hand, outpatient recovery centers are usually more affordable than inpatient ones, which means you can get the treatment you need at less cost.

Finally, at an inpatient center, you’ll be allowed to recover in an environment free from stressors or triggers that could lead to cravings. This gives you the opportunity to focus solely on sobriety and recovery. With outpatient treatment, you’ll be exposed to stressors and craving triggers every day you leave the facility. If you’re not fully committed to becoming addiction-free, you might suffer a relapse before treatment is complete.

Withdrawal symptoms during detox can be draining and painful, but it’s worth it in the long run, as you get one step nearer to a full recovery from PCP addiction. Contact Addiction Helper to discover the best recovery facilities in your area (or abroad) to get detoxified in the most comfortable and effective way possible.

Home detox

Aside from detoxing at a professional treatment facility, you can also detox at home, but we do not recommend this. Detoxing at home is not impossible, but is not advisable because it doesn’t offer the same quality of treatment you can get at an addiction treatment facility.

An addiction treatment facility first assesses your condition, before prescribing a treatment regimen that will be modified over time to suit your changing condition. The treatment won’t only take care of the physical aspects of your addiction, but also the psychological aspects. Furthermore, medication can be administered at a treatment facility to minimise the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms.

During a home detox, you are completely on your own and will have no access to prompt medical attention if there are any complications from detox. This can be especially dangerous if your addiction and the accompanying withdrawal symptoms are particularly severe. Therefore, rather than opt for a home detox, our experts at Addiction Helper strongly recommend you seek addiction treatment (for you or your loved one) at a recognised addiction recovery centre.

Drug Detox Kits Aren’t a Complete Treatment Programme

Drug detox kits can be easily bought at a pharmacy to help facilitate a home detox. While this sort of therapy has worked for certain people, you need to realise that a home detox kit isn’t a complete treatment programme. This is firstly because a majority of home detox kits are generic and don’t make special provisions for different types for addiction. That is, a kit for alcohol addiction will also be used for PCP addiction. This can prove ineffective, especially considering that PCP and alcohol have dissimilar effects and withdrawal symptoms.

Secondly, a drug detox kit is designed to only treat the physical aspects of withdrawal. This can be a problem, especially in the instance of drugs like PCP, which can cause both physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms. Treatment at a recovery centre will care for both your physical and psychological needs, which is a much more holistic and effective approach to curing addiction.

Addiction treatment that fails to take into consideration psychological aspects leaves a recovering addict greatly vulnerable of falling into relapse. Therefore, if you want addiction treatment with long-term results, opt for treatment from specialists at an established medical facility.

Psychological Withdrawal and Detox

When it comes to PCP, psychological withdrawal symptoms can be just as bad as physical symptoms (or even more complicated).This is because PCP affects the brain on a chemical level that impacts your emotional and psychological state during and after consumption. Psychological withdrawal symptoms can vary depending on a variety of factors, but typically seen symptoms include:

Several types of therapy can be applied in helping you overcome the psychological aspects of PCP addiction, and inpatient detox might be required if withdrawal symptoms are especially severe. A medically assisted detox will effectively rid your system of PCP safely and therefore mitigate any unpleasant side effects of detox withdrawal. Outpatient programmes that apply group and individual therapy can also be beneficial.

Other therapies that can help with psychological withdrawal include cognitive behavioural therapy, interpersonal therapy, support groups, 12-step programmes and dialectical behavioural therapy.

Medication Assisted Detox

Medication assisted detox is often recommended for severe cases of PCP addiction that can lead to intense withdrawal symptoms. The medication provided at a recovery clinic during detox will minimise the unpleasantness of withdrawal symptoms and in some cases, even speed up the recovery timeline. The primary goal of medication assisted detox is to provide an addict the opportunity to experience as little discomfort as possible when undergoing detoxification.

If you would like your detox process to be medication assisted and as smooth as possible, Addiction Helper can recommend some of the finest treatment centres with fantastic facilities. Give us a call today to discover more!

Benefits of a Drug Rehab Programme

Rather than try detoxing on your own (which can be both dangerous and ineffective), a drug rehab programme can help you achieve detoxification less strenuously and with better results. Other benefits you can look forward to experiencing by opting for a drug rehab programme over home detox include:

• Personalised Treatment Plans: Since each patient is different and has unique needs, a drug rehab programme will carefully assess your situation before developing a suitable treatment plan that will lead you to be drug-free in the most effective manner possible.
• Group and Family Therapy Sessions: Emotional and psychological support is key to making a full recovery from addiction. A competent rehab center will facilitate the presence of loved ones and supportive individuals to motivate you and keep you focused on staying sober.
• Practical Life Skills Training: Life post-rehab can be initially tough for a recovering addict. A rehab center will provide you with coping mechanisms and the necessary skills to stay healthy and drug-free once you’re back in the real world.
• Individualised Therapy: This form of therapy will help you process the factors that might have led to your substance abuse in the first instance. By overcoming these mental issues, you’ll be psychologically stronger and better able to resist cravings.
• Aftercare Services: Drug rehabilitation best practices prescribe aftercare services for all recovering addicts. It has proven very effective in helping addicts who have concluded rehab avoid a relapse and stay sober long-term.

Alternative Therapies

Experts who specialize in the treatment of PCP addiction (and its psychological effects) have recorded some success with the use of alternative therapies to treat the addiction. Some of the more commonly applied forms of alternative therapy used to enhance recovery include music therapy, animal-assisted therapy, and psychodrama. Keep in mind that these forms of therapy are often only used in combination with more traditional forms of therapy in order to significantly aid recovery.

Aftercare Planning

Aftercare treatment is not mandatory but is highly recommended. Aftercare counseling sessions will help a recovering addict stay on track once addiction rehab treatment is over. With aftercare, your recovery will be more secure and chances of relapse greatly reduced. This is why it’s important to map out what sort of aftercare treatment you want before rehab ends. As part of aftercare, you’ll have access to continued assistance and support for relapse prevention. The process of aftercare is simply designed to help with healthily structuring your days and keeping you focused on staying sober. How long aftercare lasts is entirely up to you, as it is completely voluntary.

Privacy of Treatment

At Addiction Helper, we strongly believe in your privacy and your right to confidentiality. This is why everyone who comes to us for treatment can be sure that their private details will be. We offer this level of service, because we know how addiction can affect your reputation. We don’t want worries about your privacy being a barrier to getting the help you need.

Not only is any communication with us confidential, but the treatment clinics we will put you in touch with will also keep your details private. To discover more about our confidentiality policy, call us today on 0800 915 9402.

Benefits of Quitting PCP

Abusing PCP can lead to a variety of health complications, including mental and behavioural disorders. Speech problems, depression, memory loss, weight loss, and unprovoked aggressive behaviour are not uncommon symptoms of abuse. These can all negatively affect relationships and can even lead to you being on the wrong side of the law. If you quit PCP, you are bound to see improvements in the following aspects of your life:

Don’t wait for PCP to cause lasting damage to your life. Choose healthy living today and Addiction Helper can help you achieve it by making a full recovery from addiction.

Statistics: All about PCP

Using the United States as a case study; according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.1 million individuals in the US, aged 12 and above, have reported lifetime usage of PCP. This figure implies that 2.4% of people in this demographic have used PCP.

According to the DEA, in 2013, PCP was mostly abused by young adults and high school students. Also, between 2005 and 2011, PCP-related emergency room visits for both males and females increased by 400%.

DAWN, (the Drug Abuse Warning Network) indicated that PCP abuse was more prevalent among African American males between the ages of 21 and 24.

History of PCP

In the 1950s, PCP was advertised by Parke, Davis and Company as an anaesthetic for clinical medicine. The drug’s trade name at the time was Sernyl. It was used on humans as part of clinical trials in 1957. At first, PCP was embraced as an effective anaesthesia by the medical community, but after its adverse side effects (which included post-operation psychosis, dysphoria, and severe anxiety) were discovered, the drug’s use in medicine was stopped by 1965. PCP by 1967 was restricted solely to veterinary use and since then has been used as an animal tranquiliser.

It was in 1960s San Francisco that PCP hit the streets as a recreational drug. By 1978, the purchase and sale of the drug was declared illegal by the US government. PCP is currently classified as a Schedule II substance, because of its high probability for abuse and physical and psychological addiction.

Facts and Myths about PCP

Over the years, a variety of myths have arisen concerning the abuse of PCP. Some include:

• PCP leads to cannibalism and acts of violence. Even though PCP can lead to violent behaviour, this claim is mostly a sensationalised myth. This is because a majority of PCP users are mostly non-violent when high and violent behaviour is mostly seen in abusers already prone to such acts of aggression. However, the drug can cause psychotic delusions and paranoid behaviour.
• PCP provides superhuman strength. This is a myth brought on by the police’s experience with PCP users resisting arrest and failing to comply.
• PCP users can take more torture. This isn’t all myth, as tests have shown that PCP users are actually less susceptible to pain, due to the drug’s effect as an anaesthetic.
• PCP causes hallucinations. This is a fact, as PCP has been shown to cause hallucinations in users. This at times even occurs after an abuser has stopped using the drug.

Street Names for PCP

Street names commonly associated with Phencyclidine (PCP) include: angel dust, love boat, ozone, rocket fuel, hog, embalming fluid, and superweed.

Help to Recover

If you or a loved one would like to overcome addiction to PCP, Addiction Helper can help you accomplish this with great, long-lasting results. Connect with us today for a confidential chat by dialling 0800 915 9402 to discover the varied PCP addiction treatments that are at your disposal.

FAQs

When should I Seek PCP Withdrawal Treatment?

You should seek PCP withdrawal treatment as soon as possible. This is because PCP is more dangerous than you might realise and without proper treatment from the start of your detox, you risk suffering health complications as well as a relapse. This can be especially dangerous if your PCP tolerance has already diminished, as a relapse in such a situation can easily lead to an overdose.

If you would like to know more about PCP Addiction Rehab and Treatment, as well as how Addiction Helper can help you get through a successful addiction rehabilitation, give us a call anytime on 0800 915 9402!