What Are Sherm Sticks? Understanding the Dangers of PCP-Laced Cigarettes

If you’ve heard the term “sherm stick” and wondered what it means, you’re not alone. These PCP-laced cigarettes represent one of the most dangerous forms of substance abuse on the streets today.

In short, a sherm stick is created by dipping tobacco cigarettes or marijuana joints into liquid phencyclidine (PCP) or embalming fluid before smoking.

The results can be devastating: violent behavior, psychosis, and life-threatening health complications.

As such, understanding what sherm is and recognizing its dangers could help protect you or a loved one from serious harm.

What Exactly Are Sherm Sticks?

Sherm sticks are tobacco cigarettes or marijuana cigarettes that have been dipped in a dangerous liquid. That liquid is usually PCP, also known as phencyclidine or angel dust.

Sometimes people use embalming fluid instead, which contains formaldehyde and other toxic chemicals. Either way, smoking sherm creates an extremely powerful and unpredictable high.

The practice of smoking wet, as it’s sometimes called, appeals to young adults and others seeking intense hallucinogenic experiences. These laced cigarettes deliver a dissociative drug that can cause severe health risks.

This illicit drug combination became popular in certain urban areas decades ago. The name “sherm” likely comes from Sherman cigarettes, which were commonly used to make these drug-laced products.

How Are They Made?

Today, any type of cigarette or marijuana joint can become a sherm stick when soaked in PCP or embalming fluid.

If someone has PCP in powder form, they first need to dissolve it using a solvent. That’s where embalming fluid often comes into play. This toxic substance, normally used to preserve bodies at funeral homes, contains methanol and formaldehyde.

The cigarette or joint absorbs the liquid form of the drug. Once it dries, it’s ready to smoke. Some people make multiple batches at once, storing them for later use. Others prepare them fresh before each session.

As for PCP concentration, it varies wildly from one sherm stick to another. There’s no standard “dose” because these are illegal drugs made without any quality control. This unpredictability makes every use potentially life-threatening.

What Are the Street Names for Sherm?

Common names include wet drug, illy, fry, and smoking wet. Some people simply call them “dippers” because of how they’re made. The term “sherm use” refers to the act of smoking these PCP-laced products.

When people talk about “smoking sherm” or “hitting a wet,” they’re describing the same dangerous activity. That said, these street names often vary by region and social groups.

What Is PCP and Why Is It So Dangerous?

Understanding Phencyclidine

PCP, or phencyclidine, was initially developed as a medical breakthrough in the 1950s. Doctors used it as a surgical anesthetic because it didn’t harm the heart or lungs like other options.

However, patients experienced terrifying side effects after surgery. They hallucinated, became agitated, and lost touch with reality. By 1965, medical professionals stopped using PCP entirely.

Despite being discontinued in healthcare settings, PCP found its way to the streets. It became a controlled substance, making its possession and use illegal. Today, it remains one of the most dangerous illicit drugs available.

What makes PCP so hazardous is its unpredictable nature. This dissociative drug affects everyone differently. The psychoactive effects can range from mild detachment to complete psychosis.

Note: The effects of PCP can last for hours or even days. It leaves people vulnerable to accidents, violence, and severe mental health crises.

How Does PCP Affect the Brain?

PCP fundamentally changes how your brain processes information. When you use PCP, it blocks special receptors called NMDA receptors.

These receptors normally help regulate glutamate, a crucial chemical messenger in your brain. Glutamate enables you to think clearly, learn new information, and control your emotions.

By blocking these receptors, PCP creates the hallucinogenic and dissociative effects users seek. But it also causes serious cognitive impairment. Some people even experience brain damage that persists long after they stop using.

Further, the psychological effects of sherm can mimic schizophrenia. Users often develop paranoid delusions, hear voices, or lose their sense of identity. These symptoms sometimes continue for weeks or months after the last use.

What Makes Embalming Fluid So Toxic?

What Chemicals Are in Embalming Fluid?

Embalming fluid contains a mixture of toxic chemicals designed to preserve deceased bodies.

The primary ingredient is formaldehyde: a known carcinogen that causes severe tissue damage. Methanol, another key component, can destroy your organs and damage your vision permanently.

These substances also include glutaraldehyde and various other solvents that have no business entering a living human’s lungs.

So, when people use embalming fluid as a solvent to dissolve PCP powder, they’re adding another layer of toxicity to an already dangerous drug.

The formaldehyde alone can cause immediate respiratory distress. Your throat and lungs burn as the chemical vapor enters your system.

What Additional Health Risks Come from Embalming Fluid?

Embalming fluid creates serious long-term health complications. Repeated exposure can lead to chronic lung problems and respiratory failure. Your body simply can’t process these industrial chemicals safely.

For instance, methanol poisoning causes a condition called metabolic acidosis. It happens when too much acid builds up in your blood and organs. Your liver and kidneys work overtime trying to filter out the toxins. Some users even experience vision problems or complete blindness.

All in all, the combination of embalming fluid and PCP multiplies the health risk exponentially. The toxicity affects every major system in your body: Your heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and brain all suffer damage from this combination.

What Happens When Someone Smokes Sherm?

What Are the Immediate Short-Term Effects?

The short-term effects of smoking sherm appear within minutes and can last for hours. Your body and mind react unpredictably to this powerful combination of substances.

Physical symptoms include:

• Increased blood pressure and rapid heartbeat
• Loss of coordination and difficulty walking
• Slurred speech and confusion
• Excessive sweating and flushed skin
• Numbness throughout the body
• Shallow breathing or respiratory distress

Psychological symptoms, on the other hand, include:

• Intense hallucinations
• Severe paranoia and anxiety
• Violent behavior and aggression
• Feeling detached from reality
• Distorted sense of time and space

Additionally, many users experience what feels like superhuman strength, leading them to take dangerous risks. The side effects make it impossible to think clearly or make safe decisions.

Some people also become completely unresponsive to pain, which can result in serious self-injury.

What Are the Long-Term Effects of Sherm Use?

Long-term use of sherm creates lasting damage that persists even after someone stops using it. The brain suffers the most significant impact from repeated exposure to PCP and toxic chemicals.

Cognitive problems include:

• Severe memory loss affecting daily function
• Difficulty concentrating or completing tasks
• Impaired judgment and decision-making
• Permanent cognitive impairment

Further mental health consequences include:

• Chronic psychosis that requires ongoing treatment
• Depression and severe anxiety disorders
• Schizophrenia-like symptoms
• Persistent flashbacks and dissociative episodes

Mind you, your physical health deteriorates with continued sherm use. For example, your respiratory system becomes weaker, increasing your vulnerability to infections and breathing problems. Cardiovascular issues also develop from the constant strain on your heart.

What Are the Dangers and Risks of Smoking Sherm?

Smoking shem carries life-threatening risks every single time. Overdose can happen without warning, causing seizures, comas, cardiac arrest, and death.

Additionally, the violent behavior associated with sherm puts both users and bystanders in danger. High doses trigger psychosis that can last for days or weeks. Users also face an increased risk of accidents due to impaired judgment and loss of coordination.

How Can You Recognize Sherm Use in a Loved One?

Warning signs of sherm use include dramatic behavioral changes and physical symptoms that are hard to miss. Your loved one might display violent outbursts, extreme paranoia, or seem completely detached from reality.

Look for dilated pupils, excessive sweating, slurred speech, and difficulty walking. They may appear to be in a trance-like state or talk to people who aren’t there.

As for physical evidence, you may find strange-smelling cigarettes or marijuana joints. Mood swings, social isolation, and neglecting responsibilities also signal potential drug abuse.

What Treatment Options Are Available for Sherm Addiction?

Recovery from sherm addiction requires professional treatment at a qualified treatment center.

Medical detox, which is a necessary first step in recovery, helps manage dangerous withdrawal symptoms under healthcare supervision.

After detoxification, treatment programs will include both inpatient and outpatient options, depending on severity. Therapy is often required, too. It addresses underlying mental health issues driving the addiction.

What’s more, support groups connect you with other people in recovery. Relapse prevention strategies will teach you coping skills for long-term success.

Final Thoughts

Sherm sticks represent one of the most dangerous forms of drug abuse available today. The combination of PCP and toxic chemicals creates unpredictable and potentially fatal consequences.

Recovery is possible with the right support and professional treatment. You don’t have to face substance abuse alone. At Garden State Treatment Center, we offer comprehensive addiction treatment programs designed to help you heal and rebuild your life.

Contact us today to learn more about our services and take the first step toward lasting recovery.

---

Written by: The Garden State Treatment Center Editorial Team
Editor: Isaac Adams-Hands
Medically Reviewed by: MedicallyReviewed.com

Published on: November 29, 2025
Updated on: December 2, 2025