by: Debbie Wicker

Dear Mandi,

Almost every addict I’ve ever met says:

“I can stop any time I want to, and I can do it by myself.”

The truth is they can’t stop without A LOT of support others and what they really mean is they don’t want to stop. It sounds to me like your boyfriend wants to continuing to use and until something bad happens that gets his attention he will not give up PCP, he is likely addicted to it. PCP is a very dangerous drug and you need to try to get your boyfriend to stop using it immediately and get medical support for the withdrawal he is likely to experience.

As to how bad is it? It’s VERY bad for him. Here is what Wikipedia has to say about the effects of PCP:

“Behavioral effects can vary by dosage. Low doses produce a numbness in the extremities and intoxication, characterized by staggering, unsteady gait, slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, and loss of balance. Moderate doses (5–10 mg intranasal, or 0.01–0.02 mg/kg intramuscular or intravenous) will produce analgesia and anesthesia. High doses may lead to convulsions. Users frequently do not know how much of the drug they are taking due to the tendency of the drug to be made illegally in uncontrolled conditions.

“Psychological effects include severe changes in body image, loss of ego boundaries, paranoia, and depersonalization. Hallucinations, euphoria, and suicidal impulses are also reported, as well as occasional aggressive behavior. Like many other drugs, PCP has been known to alter mood states in an unpredictable fashion, causing some individuals to become detached, and others to become animated. PCP may induce feelings of strength, power, and invulnerability as well as a numbing effect on the mind.”

Because PCP is manufactured on the street you never sure exactly what you’re getting when you take it. PCP attacks the brain and can cause brain damage only reversible when the addict stops using.

I would recommend you start going to Al-anon meetings ASAP to learn about addiction and to learn how to help your boyfriend to STOP using.

Good Luck,

Debbie