An overdose of PCP brings on extreme fear and agitation in users. They frequently become violent. Tranquilizers may need to be administered until the effects of the drug wear off, so emergency medical attention is required. The NIDA InfoFacts report states, "Many PCP users are brought to emergency rooms because of PCP overdose or because of the drug's unpleasant psychological effects. In a hospital or detention setting, these people often become violent or suicidal and are very dangerous to themselves and others. They should be kept in a calm setting and not be left alone."
PCP Use Is No Legal Defense for Murder
One of the most shocking and grisly stories connected with PCP use was the murder case involving Antron Singleton, an up-and-coming rap artist from Texas who went by the stage name of Big Lurch. Singleton had moved from Texas and was living in the Los Angeles area with a young woman named Tynisha Ysais. On April 10, 2002, police spotted Singleton walking down the street near his apartment. He was completely naked, staring up at the sky, and had blood covering his mouth, chest, and abdomen.
Investigating his apartment, the authorities found that Ysais had been stabbed multiple times. She had teeth marks on her face and on some of her internal organs. A medical examination of Singleton revealed that he had consumed human flesh.
Singleton was charged with the crime and did not deny it. In his defense, however, he said that he and a friend had been on a five-day PCP binge. He claimed that he was not responsible for his behavior because he had been made psychotic by the drug. The jury did not agree with this argument, and in 2003 California judge Jack W. Morgan sentenced Singleton to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
A similar scenario was played out on the television series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation in 2002. In the episode titled "Let the Seller Beware," a cheerleader is found dead on a soccer field with similar wounds. The killer, another cheerleader, was under the influence of PCP-laced marijuana when she committed the crime.
Because PCP makes users emotionally unstable and fearful, an addicted user must be treated with great care and understanding. One of the most effective types of therapies is the twelve-step program pioneered by Alcoholics Anonymous. Such programs are run by former users and allow people struggling with the same addiction to meet and give each other support in a non-confrontational, nonjudgmental manner.
