Phencyclidine deaths.

The potential for a pharmacologic "overdose" and the cause of death associated with phencyclidine abuse is discussed. Nineteen deaths associated exclusively with phencyclidine intoxication have been documented. In 13 cases the immediate cause of death was asphyxia by drowning or trauma with lower levels of phencyclidine present suggesting behavioral toxicity. In two cases, the presence of phencyclidine in high concentrations constituted the only finding, and the probable cause of death was primary respiratory depression accompanied by seizure activity. A secondary drug effect or concurrent disease process may have contributed to the death of the remaining four individuals.