Slang terms for illicit and other commonly abused drugs are constantly changing and evolving. No matter which type of substance you’re talking about, you can likely pick any one of about 20 words to describe it. For example, say you’re describing codeine. You could call this opioid narcotic painkiller Captain Cody, Schoolboy, Sizzurp, Lean, Purple Drank, Pancakes, and Syrup… the list goes on and on. Why do people use slang terms instead of the actual drug name itself?
In most cases, people describing a substance they have been abusing want to be as discreet as possible. They don’t want to come right out and say, “Hey, do you have any codeine I could buy?” Saying something like, “Hey, do you happen to know Cody,” is more inconspicuous.
What is ‘Water’?
Of course, so many variations of drug names make it difficult to determine exactly what someone is talking about. This is especially true of slang terms for drugs that can be easily confused with something else — like water. ‘Water’ is a newly emerging street name for a cigarette or marijuana joint dipped in liquid PCP or an embalming fluid combined with PCP. PCP, or phencyclidine, is a hallucinogenic drug known to cause violence and erratic users.
While the term ‘water’ might seem relatively new, this specific drug has been widely used throughout New York and other east coast areas since the 1960s. Nationally, rates of PCP use have been on the decline. In 2002 there were an estimated 123,000 new PCP users across the country; by 2009, this number had dropped to 45,000 new users. Unfortunately, in some New York and other eastern states, the use of ‘water is on the rise — and it costs people their lives.
Side Effects from Drug Known as ‘Water’
When a person uses PCP in any form (including ‘water’), they experience the following symptoms:
- Slurred speech/an inability to speak clearly
- Numbness of the extremities
- Loss of coordination
- Increased strength (due to lack of sensation in the extremities)
- Acute hallucinations, both auditory and visual
- Extreme anxiety and panic attacks
- Involuntary eye movements
- Loss of memory
- Extreme paranoia
- Violent outbursts and unexplainable anger
- A psychosis that seems a lot like schizophrenia
- Nausea and vomiting
- Profuse sweating and heightened body temperature
- Depressed mood and suicidal ideation
How can you effectively treat PCP addiction once it develops? Because this particular drug is so highly addictive, it is important for anyone who has been struggling with an addictive disorder to first enter into a medical detox program, seeing as the symptoms of withdrawal can be so physically and psychologically uncomfortable. Symptoms of PCP withdrawal include intense anxiety, severe stomach cramping, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, insomnia, uncontrollable shaking, loss of appetite, and general feelings of physical discomfort.
These symptoms can all be adequately treated in a medical detox facility. Once detox concludes, it is good for the person to transition directly into a rehab center for between 30 days and 90 days. The psychological drug cravings that go hand in hand with the early days of sobriety following active PCP addiction can be difficult to get a hold of, which is why residential treatment is a good idea. To learn more about the most appropriate stages of a PCP addiction treatment program, contact us today.
Garden State Treatment Center and Drug Addiction Recovery
At Garden State Treatment Center, we specialize in treating PCP or ‘water’ addiction, and we know how devastating ‘water’ and other drugs can be. If you or someone you know has been abusing PCP or any other potent and illegal hallucinogenic drug, we are available to help.
Simply contact us today to learn more about our drug rehab in New Jersey or begin your journey of drug addiction recovery. Taking the first step and reaching out for help is the hardest part — as soon as you make contact, we will walk you through the remainder of the process in a matter of minutes.