Phencyclidine, commonly known as PCP or “angel dust,” is a powerful and dangerous dissociative anesthetic that rose to prominence as a drug of abuse in the 1960s and 70s. Its unpredictable and often violent effects have earned it a notorious reputation. Yet, beyond its chemical name and common street moniker, PCP is known by an astonishing array of nicknames – a testament to its pervasive, albeit illicit, presence in drug subcultures. This vast lexicon of terms serves multiple purposes: to evade detection by law enforcement, to describe the drug’s potent and often terrifying effects, to indicate its form or method of use, or simply to create a coded language within user communities. Exploring these 76 nicknames offers a unique glimpse into the ever-evolving slang of the drug world, while simultaneously underscoring the severe dangers associated with this unpredictable substance, regardless of what it’s called.

The proliferation of street names for drugs like PCP is a complex phenomenon driven by several factors. Firstly, secrecy is paramount in illegal drug transactions. Using coded language helps users and dealers communicate without immediately alerting authorities. Secondly, nicknames often arise from the drug’s perceived effects or the user’s experience. A name like “Zombie Drug” immediately conjures images of the detached, unresponsive state PCP can induce, while “Rocket Fuel” might allude to its intense, disorienting rush. Thirdly, regional variations and subcultural nuances contribute to the diversity of terms. What’s known as “Wet” in one city might be “Fry” in another. Finally, the names can evolve over time, with older terms fading as new ones emerge, reflecting shifts in drug trends, manufacturing methods, or cultural references. Understanding this evolving vocabulary is crucial for law enforcement, public health officials, and educators striving to combat drug abuse and raise awareness.

Herein lies a comprehensive exploration of 76 known nicknames for Angel Dust, categorized for clarity where possible, highlighting the descriptive, evasive, and often chilling nature of this illicit lexicon:

The Core and Its Variants:

  1. Angel Dust: The most widely recognized street name, often referring to PCP in powder form.
  2. PCP: The chemical abbreviation for Phencyclidine, used both formally and informally.
  3. Sherm: A very common term, often referring to cigarettes or joints dipped in PCP.
  4. Hog: A powerful, often raw form of PCP.
  5. Wet: Typically refers to marijuana or tobacco cigarettes dipped in a liquid PCP solution.
  6. Fry: Similar to “Wet,” denoting a PCP-laced cigarette.
  7. Embalming Fluid: A chilling nickname, referring to the liquid form of PCP, sometimes mistaken for or mixed with actual embalming fluid.
  8. Killer Weed: Implies a dangerous, potent form of marijuana, but refers to PCP-laced cannabis.
  9. Supergrass: Another term for marijuana laced with PCP.
  10. Superjoint: A joint that has been dipped in or laced with PCP.

Descriptive of Effects and Experiences:

  1. Zombie Drug: Reflects the catatonic, unresponsive, and often violent state induced by PCP.
  2. Trank: Short for “tranquilizer,” referencing PCP’s original medical use as an anesthetic.
  3. Wack: Describes the disorienting and often violent or erratic behavior under PCP’s influence.
  4. Blackout: Refers to the memory loss and unconsciousness that can occur.
  5. Goon: Suggests the uncontrolled, often aggressive behavior of someone under the influence.
  6. Mind Bender: Highlights the drug’s powerful hallucinogenic and dissociative effects.
  7. Neuro-Wack: Emphasizes the severe neurological and mental disorientation.
  8. DOA (Dead on Arrival): A grim term hinting at the drug’s potentially lethal consequences.
  9. Peace Pill: An ironic name, as PCP often leads to agitation and violence, not peace.
  10. Serenity: Another ironic term, given the drug’s chaotic effects.
  11. Love Drug: A misnomer, sometimes used to confuse it with MDMA, but PCP rarely induces feelings of love.
  12. Love Boat: Can refer to a PCP-laced cigarette, or a feeling of detachment.
  13. Tic Tac: Sometimes used for PCP in pill form, or to describe the “ticking” sensation.
  14. Zoom: Implies a rapid, disorienting onset of effects.
  15. Zoomers: Similar to “Zoom,” referring to the fast-acting and disorienting effects.
  16. Cyclone: Describes the overwhelming and disorienting rush.
  17. Haze: A generic term for hallucinogens, but can refer to the mental fog of PCP.
  18. Purple Haze: While often LSD, it can also refer to PCP, especially if mixed or due to a specific color.
  19. Rocket Fuel: Denotes the intense, unpredictable, and rapid onset of effects.
  20. Jet Fuel: Similar to “Rocket Fuel,” emphasizing speed and intensity.

Related to Form, Appearance, or Preparation:

  1. Crystal: Refers to PCP in its crystalline or powder form.
  2. Red Dust: Describes PCP with a reddish tint, possibly from impurities or additives.
  3. Red Devil: Can refer to various drugs, but sometimes PCP, possibly due to color or effect.
  4. Green: Can refer to PCP if it has a greenish tint, or if it’s mixed with marijuana.
  5. Lemon: Sometimes refers to a flavored or colored variant of PCP.
  6. Mist: Refers to liquid PCP, often sprayed onto other substances.
  7. Magic Mist: A more evocative term for liquid PCP.
  8. P-Boat: A cigarette or joint dipped in liquid PCP.
  9. Black Whack: Can refer to a dark-colored form of PCP, or a particularly potent batch.
  10. Kools: Refers to Kool brand cigarettes dipped in PCP.
  11. Mint: Refers to mint-flavored cigarettes dipped in PCP.
  12. Gorilla Biscuits: A term for PCP in pill or tablet form, implying strength.
  13. Rolaids: When PCP is disguised as an antacid tablet.
  14. Green Tea: When PCP is disguised as a harmless substance.
  15. Pill: A generic term, but in context, can refer to PCP tablets.
  16. T-Pill: Specifically refers to a PCP tablet.
  17. Soma: While a brand name for a muscle relaxant, it’s also been used for PCP.
  18. STP: While historically referring to DOM, it has also been used for PCP.

Animal and Nature-Inspired Names:

  1. Horse Tranquilizer: Reflects PCP’s use as a large animal tranquilizer, highlighting its potency.
  2. Elephant Tranquilizer: Similar to “Horse Tranquilizer,” emphasizing extreme potency.
  3. Monkey Dust: A more obscure term, perhaps implying erratic or wild behavior.
  4. Pig: Can be a general term for PCP, or a combination drug.
  5. Scramble: Perhaps related to the disorienting effects, or the process of mixing.
  6. Ozone: Implies a high, detached state.
  7. Star Dust: An evocative name, suggesting a hallucinatory experience, but also a powder form.
  8. Heavenly Blue: While often morning glory seeds, it can sometimes refer to PCP due to hallucinogenic properties.

Generic, Confusing, or Obscure Terms:

  1. Crystal: While also used for methamphetamine, it can refer to PCP.
  2. Dummy Dust: Implies the user becomes unresponsive or “dumb.”
  3. Ecstasy: A dangerous misnomer; PCP is sometimes sold as or mixed with MDMA.
  4. Fentanyl: A dangerous misnomer; PCP can be mixed with or mistaken for fentanyl.
  5. K-Blast: Can refer to PCP, or a combination with Ketamine.
  6. Kryptonite: Often used for synthetic cannabinoids, but also applied to PCP due to its potent effects.
  7. Lethal Weapon: Highlights the drug’s dangerous and potentially violent effects.
  8. New Magic: A more recent or unknown variant of PCP.
  9. Peace: A deceptively benign name.
  10. Peter Pan: A whimsical name that belies the drug’s dangers.
  11. P-Funk: A term potentially derived from the music genre, but also refers to PCP.
  12. Rocket: A shortened form of “Rocket Fuel.”
  13. Rush: A generic term for a drug’s immediate effects, but also used for PCP.
  14. Super C: While often cocaine, it can also refer to PCP, especially if mixed.
  15. Super K: Often refers to Ketamine, but can be used for PCP or a combination.
  16. Synthetic Cocaine: A misnomer, as PCP is not cocaine, but may be marketed as such.
  17. T: A generic initial, but can refer to PCP in certain contexts.
  18. TCP: The chemical abbreviation for 1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl)pyrrolidine, a PCP analog, sometimes used as a street name.
  19. THC: A dangerous misnomer; PCP is sometimes confused with or mixed with the active compound in cannabis.
  20. Tranquilizer: A broad term, but fits PCP’s original pharmaceutical classification.

The sheer volume and diversity of these nicknames underscore the pervasive nature of PCP in illicit drug markets. Each name, whether descriptive, evasive, or ironic, tells a part of the story of a drug that has caused immense harm. Regardless of the term used – be it “Angel Dust,” “Sherm,” “Wet,” or “Zombie Drug” – the substance remains the same: a potent dissociative anesthetic with severe and unpredictable psychological and physical effects. From intense hallucinations and paranoia to violent outbursts and potentially fatal overdoses, the dangers of PCP are universal, transcending any street name. Awareness of this extensive lexicon is not merely an academic exercise; it is a vital tool for parents, educators, and law enforcement to identify and address drug use, reinforcing the critical message that the risks associated with PCP are real and devastating, no matter what it’s called.

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