Definition

Noun: 1. A veterinary anesthetic with hallucinogenic properties: A synthetic drug, originally developed for use as a general anesthetic in veterinary medicine. It is a hydrochloride salt form of phencyclidine. When used illicitly by humans, it acts as a potent dissociative hallucinogen, distorting perceptions of sight and sound and producing feelings of detachment (dissociation) from the environment and self.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The confiscated substance was identified as phencyclidine hydrochloride.
  • Phencyclidine hydrochloride is known for causing severe and unpredictable psychological effects.
  • In a clinical setting, phencyclidine hydrochloride was once researched for human anesthesia but was discontinued due to adverse side effects.

Advanced Usage

• Illicit Context: In street parlance, phencyclidine hydrochloride is most commonly referred to by its abbreviation PCP or by various street names (e.g., angel dust, sherm, wet). The term "phencyclidine hydrochloride" itself is primarily used in formal, legal, medical, or chemical contexts.
  • Forensic analysis confirmed the presence of phencyclidine hydrochloride in the sample.

Variants and Related Words

• PCP (noun): The common abbreviation for phencyclidine or phencyclidine hydrochloride.
• Phencyclidine (noun): The base chemical name for the drug, of which phencyclidine hydrochloride is a salt form.
• Dissociative anesthetic (noun): The class of drug to which phencyclidine hydrochloride belongs.
• Hallucinogen (noun): A broader category of perception-altering drugs that includes phencyclidine hydrochloride.

Synonyms

• PCP
• Angel dust (slang)
• Dissociative anesthetic (category)

Related Phrases / Terms

• "Under the influence of PCP": A phrase used to describe the state of intoxication caused by phencyclidine hydrochloride, often associated with extreme agitation, strength, and a lack of pain response.
  • The individual was behaving erratically and was believed to be under the influence of PCP.

Noun

1. a drug used as an anesthetic by veterinarians; illicitly taken (originally in the form of powder or `dust') for its effects as a hallucinogen