Phencyclidine ( a contraction of the chemical name phenylcyclohexylpiperidine ) , shortened as PCP , is a dissociative drug that gives the user hallucinogenic and neurotoxic effects . It is commonly known as Angel Dust . Phencyclidine ( a complex clip of the chemical name 1 - ( 1-phenylcyclohexyl ) piperidine , commonly initialized as PCP ) , also known as angel dust and myriad other street names , is a recreational , dissociative drug formerly used as an anesthetic agent , exhibiting hallucinogenic and neurotoxic effects .