MYSTERY DRUG PUTS 3 IN HOSPITAL

A mystery drug has hit Vancouver Island, landing three users in
hospital with delusions, paranoia, and violent behaviour.

Police warn it could be phencyclidine -- more commonly known as PCP or
"angel dust" -- but won't be sure until the victims recover and can be
interviewed.

"Angel dust is a suspicion of ours, but the victims have track marks,
so it might be something they've injected," said Const. Jack
McClintock of the Victoria Police Department.

"Right now we just want a general warning out there to anyone buying
street-level drugs to watch out."

Nasty reactions to the drug have police worried.

"They have delusions, they see things in front of their eyes that
aren't there, and they get really scared," said McClintock.

"Most of them have been found partially naked, running down
streets."

Two victims in Victoria were hospitalized this week, and one in the
Western Communities RCMP district.

"These have all been street people so far," said McClintock.

"We're hoping for full co-operation, but we're not counting on
it."

The Capital Health Region has been alerted, and is warning of possible
fatal effects of the mystery drug.

First developed for use as an anesthetic in 1959, PCP was later used
as a tranquilizer in veterinary medicine.

Its legal use in humans was discontinued in 1965 because users often
became agitated, delusional, and irrational while recovering from its
anesthetic effects.

On the street, it is usually either snorted, smoked, or eaten.