What Is Sherm?

Sherm is street slang for tobacco or marijuana cigarettes (“sticks”) dipped in PCP or embalming fluid, then smoked for a potent, dissociative “high.” Also known as “wet,” “water,” “wet drug,” or “fry,” Sherm is a dangerous urban street drug with unpredictable and potentially life-threatening effects.

Sherm addiction is a compulsive pattern of smoking cigarettes or joints dipped in PCP or embalming fluid despite harmful consequences. 

Nationally, lifetime PCP use among individuals aged 12 and older was about 2.1% in 2023, down from 2.3% in prior years, with an estimated 5.9 million people reporting lifetime use, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration (2025).

The signs of Sherm use include erratic behavior, intense paranoia, hallucinations, aggression, and slurred speech. Users appear detached from reality, physically uncoordinated, or emotionally unstable.

The causes of Sherm abuse stem from underlying trauma, peer pressure, mental health conditions, or the pursuit of a powerful high. The drug’s dissociative effects become a form of escape that quickly turns into dependence.

The effects of Sherm are severe, ranging from psychosis and memory loss to respiratory damage and organ toxicity from embalming fluid exposure. Even one-time use results in dangerous hallucinations or self-harm.

Treatment for Sherm abuse involves medical detox, behavioral therapy, psychiatric support, and long-term relapse prevention strategies.

If someone you care about is showing signs of Sherm use, or you’re worried about your habits, don’t wait; early intervention saves a life. What steps are you taking today to break free from the cycle of Sherm addiction?

What Is Sherm (“Smoking Wet”)?

Sherm is a street drug made by dipping cigarettes or marijuana joints in PCP (phencyclidine) or embalming fluid, then smoking them. Users inhale the toxic chemicals to achieve intense hallucinations, dissociation, or sedation. Also called “wet” or “fry,” Sherm poses serious health risks, including psychosis, brain damage, and addiction. PCP is a Schedule II controlled substance, and embalming fluid contains dangerous compounds like formaldehyde. Sherm use is illegal and highly addictive.

PCP (phencyclidine), a hallucinogenic anesthetic typically smoked through $20 cigarettes known as “dippers,” ranks as the second most cited illegal drug in Washington D.C.’s Superior Court criminal cases, trailing only cocaine, as highlighted in a VICE investigation, “Why America Is the Only Place in the World Where People Use PCP.”

North Carolina law treats synthetic cannabinoids seriously, with trafficking penalties ranging from Class H to Class D felonies depending on quantity, reflecting the state’s regulatory stance on these substances

How Sherm Became a Street Drug

Sherm became a street drug in the 1970s when users began dipping cigarettes (Carnival-brand) or joints in PCP or embalming fluid to intensify their high. It spread in urban areas due to its low cost, easy access, and powerful dissociative effects. Over time, Sherm use became linked to violent behavior, psychosis, and addiction, drawing concern from health officials and law enforcement across the U.S. 

PCP was discontinued from medical use in the 1960s (went by the moniker “Angel Dust”), but its potency as a dissociative hallucinogen made it popular in underground circles when added to casual smoking habits.

As recorded in the 2022 “National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH),” synthetic marijuana use prevalence is relatively low but present. The data indicate that past-year use rates of synthetic cannabinoids in the general population hover around 0.02% to 0.13%, depending on the year and subgroup, with North Carolina figures consistent with these national trends.

What Are Sherm’s Immediate Effects on Mind and Body?

Sherm’s immediate effects on the mind and body are intense confusion, hallucinations, dissociation, numbness, and erratic behavior. Users feel detached from reality, experience distorted perceptions, and display aggression or paranoia. Physical effects of Sherm comprise slurred speech, poor coordination, rapid heartbeat, and muscle rigidity, posing serious risks even with a single use.

What Are the Dangerous and Long-Term Harms of Sherm?

The dangerous and long-term harms of Sherm entail brain damage, memory loss, chronic psychosis, and elevated risk of violent behavior. Prolonged use precipitates irreversible cognitive impairment, respiratory issues, kidney failure, and high addiction potential. Users also suffer from depression, paranoia, and long-lasting dissociation that disrupts daily life.

Is Sherm Addictive?

Yes, Sherm is addictive, psychologically and physically. The PCP in Sherm alters brain chemistry, prompting compulsive use, intense cravings, and withdrawal symptoms like depression, confusion, and agitation. Repeated use accelerates tolerance, making it harder to stop without professional treatment. Sherm is highly addictive owing to PCP’s effect on the mesolimbic dopamine system, which interferes with the brain’s reward pathway, leaving you struggling to stop.

Sherm vs PCP Alone

Sherm and PCP alone contain phencyclidine, but their method of use, onset, and additional risks differ. Here’s how:

• Sherm (PCP-laced cigarette): Smoking tobacco or marijuana dipped in liquid PCP leads to faster absorption through the lungs, intensifying hallucinations, aggression, and dissociation. 
• PCP alone (in powder or pill form): Taken orally or snorted, PCP acts more slowly but still produces hallucinations, numbness, and psychosis. Oral use results in longer-lasting effects and less predictable outcomes. 
• Added risk from smoking Sherm: Combustion byproducts from tobacco or marijuana, combined with PCP, elevate the risk of respiratory problems and unpredictable interactions.

What Are the Warning Signs of Sherm Use?

The warning signs of Sherm use are the following:

• Erratic behavior and aggression: Sudden outbursts, agitation, or unpredictable violence, even without provocation.
• Blank stare or dissociation: Users seem disconnected from reality, unresponsive, or unaware of their surroundings.
• Slurred speech and motor impairment: Difficulty speaking, walking, or maintaining coordination.
• Strong chemical odor: Clothing or breath carries a distinct, sharp scent from PCP-laced substances, almost necrotic.
• Hallucinations or paranoia: Seeing or hearing things that aren’t there, or showing intense fear without reason.

What Are the Treatment and Recovery Solutions for Sherm Abuse?

Treatment and recovery solutions for Sherm abuse focus on managing PCP addiction and restoring physical and mental health.

Effective recovery solutions include:

• Medical detox: Supervised withdrawal to manage PCP-related symptoms like aggression, psychosis, and cravings safely.
• Inpatient or residential rehab: Structured care offering 24/7 support, therapy, and relapse prevention for severe addiction cases.
• Behavioral therapies (CBT, DBT): These therapies address thought patterns, emotional regulation, and triggers linked to Sherm use.
• Medication management: Antipsychotics or mood stabilizers are used short-term to treat hallucinations or agitation.
• Ongoing outpatient care and support groups: Continued recovery through group therapy, counseling, and peer-led programs like 12-Step.

How to Seek Help for Sherm Use in North Carolina

To seek help for Sherm use in North Carolina:

• Contact a medical detox facility: Choose a clinic or hospital-based detox in NC equipped to handle PCP and toxic solvent withdrawal safely, with 24/7 monitoring.
• Connect with licensed treatment centers: Look for inpatient or outpatient programs specializing in substance use disorders that offer therapy for hallucinogen addiction.
• Engage in behavioral therapy: Therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) enable you to understand triggers and cultivate healthy coping mechanisms.
• Access psychiatric support: Mental health professionals provide medications like antipsychotics or mood stabilizers to manage psychosis or emotional instability.
• Join ongoing recovery networks: Participate in outpatient care, peer support groups, and sober living programs to build community, accountability, and long-term relapse prevention.

Does My Insurance Help to Get Treated for Sherm Abuse in North Carolina?

Yes, your insurance helps to get treated for Sherm abuse under most substance use disorder (SUD) plans in North Carolina. Most private insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare plans in North Carolina cover detox, inpatient, outpatient, and therapy services for hallucinogen and inhalant abuse. Verify your benefits by contacting your provider or calling a licensed treatment center directly to confirm coverage and begin care.

Can Sherm show on a standard drug test?

Yes, Sherm can show on a standard drug test if the test includes PCP screening.

Most urine drug panels, especially 5-panel and 10-panel tests, detect PCP, the primary active drug in Sherm. However, not all basic screenings consider PCP, so expanded testing is necessary depending on the situation. PCP is detectable in urine for up to 5 days after use; hair tests show use even after months.

Is one-time Sherm use safe?

No, one-time Sherm use is not safe; even occasional use carries the risk of psychosis, overdose, respiratory collapse, and long-term brain damage.

Is Sherm only PCP?

No, Sherm also contains embalming fluid, making it far more toxic and unpredictable than PCP alone.