PCP One Step Phencyclidine Drug Test

Phencyclidine (PCP) can be classified as an anesthetic, a dissociative, or a hallucinogen, and is known for its potentially unpredictable and dramatic effects. PCP can act as a CNS depressant, a CNS stimulant, or a PNS stimulant, resulting in a very wide range of possible effects. These effects can vary from person to person, and from dose to dose. Effects sought after by PCP users might include sedation, euphoria, loss of inhibitions, analgesia, and anesthesia. As dose size increases, the potential for negative side effects increases, including but not limited to overheating, hypertension, rapid eye movements, rapid or irregular heartbeat or breathing, muscle spasms, psychosis, paranoia, schizophrenia, catatonia, body contortioning, convulsions, unresponsiveness to deep pain, violence, hallucinations, and coma. Due to PCP's unique combination of analgesic and dissociative effects, self-inflicted injury can occur, for instance walking into traffic or self-laceration. The majority of PCP-related deaths occur not as a direct result of the drug itself, but as an indirect result of violent or unpredictable behavior induced by the drug. [1]

PCP was originally dispensed as an anesthetic and as an animal tranquilizer. During the 1960s and 70s, PCP gained popularity as a recreational drug. Due to its many side effects, PCP and its chemical precursor piperidine were made illegal in 1978; and its popularity waned over the balance of the 20th century. [1] In recent years, however, illicitly produced PCP has made a comeback. According to estimates from the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN), PCP-related emergency department visits increased by over 400% between 2005 and 2011 (from 14,825 to 75,538 visits). [2] PCP maintains a strong presence in the inner-city neighborhoods of many eastern United States municipalities, where it serves as a cheap alternative to crack cocaine. [3]

In its pure form, PCP is a white, crystalline powder. Less pure forms range from yellowish-tan to brown and can have a sticky consistency. [4] In years past, PCP, particularly its powder form, was referred to as angel's dust. The majority of today's street PCP is produced in illicit labs in southern California and is sold in a clear to yellow-hued liquid form, commonly known as the slang wet. [3] This form of PCP is typically smoked after being applied to marijuana, tobacco, or the leaves of herbs, such as mint. Less commonly, it can be injected. [1] A popular method for smoking PCP involves dipping the tip of a cigarette into a vial of liquid PCP, then allowing the cigarette to dry. This is referred to as dipping and the final product is known as a dipper. [5] Cigarette dipping allows for the drug to be consumed in public without detection. [3]

Phencyclidine is the target compound for the PCP One Step Phencyclidine Drug Test, detected at a cutoff level of 25 ng/mL. PCP currently has no accepted medical use in the United States. Approximately 4–19% of a PCP dose is excreted in the urine as unchanged PCP. [6]