Well, first, this is all just observation. Firsthand for sure, but not scientific outside of vital signs and that sort of thing. PCP seems to leave people a little bit more lucid, whereas bath salts have people fully out of their minds. The aggressiveness and superhuman strength are about equal with both, but with bath salts we will see people that dont even interact with their surroundings like a human. Those on PCP will want to fight, those on bath salts are lost in a hallucination and if you get in the way well then you are just collateral damage that the drug abuser may not even notice. The biggest problem with those on bath salts is that they are relentless. Its exhausting. We actually prophylactically treat them for rhabdo because of all the physical straining, activity, fighting, etc. I had a guy that was ruthlessly fighting against his restraints for half my shift (6 hours), and I came back in 12 hours later and he was STILL fighting against his restraints the next shift, even after Haldol, Ativan, Geodon, and finally Ketamine. It Still wasnt putting him completely down.
Who knows though. I've never done either so I can't say haha. I will say this, some of the older docs I work with genuinely do not like bath salts. It seems to put grey hairs on their heads so to speak.
