Why One Drug Turned People Into Unstoppable Monsters

Witty Historian · Apr 20, 2026 · 1h 40m

This documentary explores the history of PCP (phencyclidine), also known as Angel Dust, a drug that began as a surgical anesthetic and became one of the most feared substances in American history. Originally developed in the 1950s to keep patients alive during surgery, PCP was abandoned after patients experienced extreme dissociation and panic. Years later, it re-emerged on the street as a cheap smoked drug, surrounded by myths of “superhuman strength” and uncontrollable violence. Drawing on medical research, court records, and documented cases, the film examines how those myths shaped public…