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Phencyclidine: The Dawn Of A New Age
Phencyclidine: The Dawn of a New Age Phencyclidine: The Dawn of a New Age April, 1956 : The pharmaceutical company Parke & Davis first synthesize what they believe to be the perfect anesthetic (Souza, 1995). When administered to patients, it causes a completely dissociative state, with no significant respiratory or cardiovascular depression. Patients appear to be awake, eyes open, breathing normally.but are unaware of their surroundings or the procedures being performed upon them (Souza, 1995). Indeed, this is the perfect drug. Unfortunately, like all good things, this one has a darker side. 15% of patients awake from their slumber with what appeared to be an acute case of paranoid schizophrenia (Peterson; Stillman, 1978). The drug is PCP, and to this day it is the scourge of the underground drug community, and the focal point of intense scientific research. Parke Davis and Company did not know how terrible, and wonderful, a discovery they made that day; but our world has been changed forever because of it.quite possibly for the better. The Dust of Angels Phencyclidine, more commonly known as PCP, is a polycyclic compound belonging to the arylcyclohexylamine class of chemicals [figure 1.0] (Souza 1993). In pure form, it is a white powder which readily dissolves in water. The cyclohexamines are known for their the potent neurological effects, with PCP being the most potent. Almost every variation has been administered to, or abused by, humans at some time (Nintey Fifth Congress, 1978). All these compounds have similar pharmacological effects, which vary considerably according to the amount administered. Small doses produce a `drunken' state, in which subjects report a numbness in the extremities, while some species (like dogs and cats) become quite excited (Halberstadt, 1995). Intermediate doses have anesthetic and analgesic effects , with the psychic state resembling sensory isolation with one important exception: the sensory impulses (when tested electrophysiologically) reach the neocortex but "the neuronal signals are grossly distorted" (Halberstadt, 1995). Large doses, especially of PCP, may produce convulsions. Any dose produces cataleptoid muscle effects (Halberstadt, 1995). All the chemicals in this class produce a range a physiological effects, including tachydardia and hypertension (Halberstadt, 1995). Unlike the other cyclohexamines, however, PCP causes severe "emergence delirium" when taken in moderate to anesthetic quantities (Halberstadt, 1995). On the other hand, ketamine, a close cousin of PCP, produces depressant effects which are more amplified than PCP without the psychotic aftereffects (although hallucinations are reported by patients during sedation, (Halberstadt, 1995)). In special cases, ketamine is still used as an anesthetic. (C.H. Badenhorst M.D, personal communication). Ten years after its initial discovery, phencyclidine found a new audience in the scientific and underground drug culture communities (Nintey Fifth Congress, 1978). At this time, a few Freudian psychologists carried out unauthorized experiments in which perfectly healthy patients were given PCP and observed (Nintey Fifth Congress, 1978). Although their research did not provide much useful data, it did begin a revolution in our knowledge of the chemical basis for schizophrenia (Nintey Fifth Congress, 1978). In 1987, the FDA removed Sernyl (phencyclidine's market name) from the human market and reserved it for use only as an animal tranquilizer, for which it is still used today (Peterson, 1978). Unfortunately, some individuals were still able to obtain the drug, either through theft or home synthesis in a garage laboratory (Nintey Fifth Congress, 1978). It was distributed under a number of slang terms, including PeaCe Pill, THC, and Love Boat; and rapidly spread throughout the country as a result of its low price and availability (Peterson, 1978). There were many casualties.not because of the drug, but because of its effects. Hospitals also noticed a sudden increase in paranoid schizophrenic admissions (Peterson, 1978), w... This is ONLY a preview of the article. If you would like to view the entire document, you must subscribe to Academic Library. Please register below now!
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