What Is “Sherm” and "Smoking Wet?" Plus, Effects, Risks & More

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A closer look at one of the most potent street drugs
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“Sherm” is a rather unique slang term in the sense that the slang might be more common than the thing it’s referring to. “Sherm” is shorthand for a cigarette, joint, or blunt that has been dipped in PCP (and often, formaldehyde as well). In this article, we’ll break down what sherm is , where the term came from , and what kind of side effects are associated with this dangerous and (thankfully unpopular) drug.

Meaning of "Sherm" in Slang

Also known as fry, “sherm” is a slang term for any form of smokable tobacco or marijuana that has been dipped in PCP or a combination of PCP and embalming fluid. The term likely comes from Nat Sherman cigarettes, which were popular with PCP users in the 90s.

Section 1 of 7:

What does sherm mean in slang?

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  1. “Sherm” (also known as “fry”) is a street term for a specific way to consume PCP. You take a joint, blunt, or cigarette and dip it in liquid phencyclidine, or PCP for short. You let the PCP dry, and then you smoke to get high. [1] A “sherm stick” refers to a joint, blunt, or cigarette that has been dipped in PCP, so “sherm” is the drug, and the “sherm stick” what you smoke.
    • What is phencyclidine (PCP)? PCP is a synthetic dissociative drug that was originally made in the 1950s to be an anesthetic, but it was discontinued for causing users to become delusional and irrational. As a street drug, PCP was consumed for its hallucinogenic properties, but it quickly fell out of favor because it’s so harmful.
    • Does sherm have embalming fluid in it? Often, yes. PCP comes in powder or liquid form, but if it’s a powder you can’t smoke it. To smoke powder PCP, users would sprinkle the PCP on their cigarette, joint, or blunt, then dip the entire thing in embalming fluid to dissolve and act as a liquid carrier for powdered PCP.
      • In the 90s, some users would add embalming fluid when using liquid PCP, too. The story on the street was that the embalming fluid helped the PCP burn more slowly, which made the drug stronger. In reality, it just poisoned you. [2]
    • Other nicknames for PCP include: angel dust, milk, water, illy, crazy Eddie, purple rain, Kools, boat, and Paz. [3]
  2. 2
    Sherm is occasionally used as slang for someone unintelligent. Sherm is an incredibly destructive drug, and most people don't consumer sherm these days because it’s that bad for you. As a result, “sherm” has kind of evolved a bit and can occasionally be used as an insult for someone who isn’t very smart (like “idiot,” or “dumbo”), with the implication being that the “sherm” in question is really sloppy, messy, and unorganized.
    • This is a much less common usage of “sherm” but you do hear it occasionally in modern hip hop. In “Say A’,” for example, A Boogie wit da Hoodie says “If she ever turn sherm on me then she basic.” [4]
    • Why is “sherm” popular slang in hip hop? Sherm emerged in the 1970s and reached its maximum popularity in the 80s and 90s when hip hop as a culture and music was really blowing up in popularity, so the two sort of coincided with one another. Sherm was also considered a more “urban” drug since PCP was pretty hard to get your hands on in more rural areas. [5]
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Section 2 of 7:

Origin of Sherm

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  1. Supposedly, “sherm” comes from a brand of cigarettes. While we were unable to verify it with 100% certainty, it seems likely that the term “sherm” came from Nat Sherman cigarettes, a brand that was popular from 1950-2000. Supposedly, Nat Shermans were the most popular option for PCP users when it came to dipping their cigarettes, so “sherm” came to be shorthand for a “wet” cigarette. [6]
Section 3 of 7:

What is “smoking wet?”

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  1. “Wet” comes from the part of the preparation process where you dip the cigarette, blunt, or joint in liquid PCP and/or formaldehyde (commonly known as embalming fluid). As a result, “smoking wet” or “getting wet” is just another way of saying “smoking sherm.” [7]
    • You can hear Denzel Washington’s character say, “Didn’t know you like to get wet , though” in the scene from Training Day where he forces Ethan Hawke’s character to smoke PCP.
    • Due to the decline of PCP’s popularity (especially when combined with embalming fluid), young people today may refer to any joint, blunt, or cigarette that has been dipped in a drug as “wet”---even if the drug wasn’t PCP. [8]
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Section 4 of 7:

Side Effects of Sherm Abuse

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  1. 1
    Short-term side effects After smoking sherm or “getting wet,” users may experience the following symptoms or side effects (you can kind of tell why this drug fell out of favor—most of the effects are not very fun): [9]
    • Hallucinations
    • Paranoia
    • Loss of pain
    • Violent urges
    • Numbness
    • Euphoria
    • Problems concentrating
    • Slurred speech
    • Loss of coordination
    • Increased heart rate
    • Increased blood pressure
  2. 2
    Long-term side effects With longer-term use, people can develop tolerance—or even addiction—to the PCP. The following long-term side effects are associated with prolonged PCP abuse: [10]
    • Psychosis
    • Memory loss
    • Insatiable cravings
    • Loss of judgment
    • Flashbacks
    • Depression
    • Anxiety
    • Liver damage
    • Stomach damage
    • Extreme weight loss
    • Schizophrenia
      • There is still a lot of debate in medicine over whether PCP causes schizophrenia, reveals an underlying case that hasn’t been treated, or simply triggers a series of symptoms that resemble schizophrenia. [11]
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Section 5 of 7:

Signs of Sherm Overdose

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  1. If you suspect that someone is overdosing on PCP or sherm, contact emergency services immediately, since overdoses can lead to permanent damage or even death. Signs of an impending or active overdose include: [12]
    • Extreme agitation
    • Violent behavior
    • Catatonic trance
    • Coma
    • Seizures
    • Convulsions
    • Severe hallucinations
    • Dissociation
    • Kidney failure
    • Heart failure
    • Psychosis
    • Side-to-side eye movements (nystagmus)
    • Loss of coordination
Section 6 of 7:

Is sherm specific to NYC slang?

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  1. Not really, but NYC rappers did use the term a lot. This actually provides some support for the “Nat Sherman” theory of the term’s origin, since Nat Sherman cigarettes were made (and most popular) in New York City. “Sherm” is not a regional term, but hip hop artists from New York City were especially likely to use the slang term. The other region where “sherm” was especially popular with rappers was California. Popular examples include:
    • “‘Angel dust’ is sherm” (Big L, “Ebonics”)
    • “I get in a n***** system like a hundred vials of sherm” (A$AP Ferg, “Lord”)
    • “For the sherm heads, got the PCP” (Maxo Kream & Joey Badass “1998”)
    • “We gon' smoke a dip, all of it (we gon' smoke a sherm stick)” (Jayo Felony, “Sherm Stick”)
    • “I got the sherm stick … I get ya Marlboro dipped” (The Game, “Sherm Stick”)
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Section 7 of 7:

Getting Help For Sherm Use

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  1. If you or someone you know is struggling with PCP abuse, reach out to a medical professional or rehabilitation center to get help. PCP abuse is serious, and it requires the help of a professional to overcome the addiction . [13]
    • If you or someone you know may be overdosing, contact emergency services immediately. PCP overdoses can be fatal, and it is not worth risking anyone’s life.

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      Warnings

      • PCP is not only dangerous, it’s not even fun. Abusers report all kinds of terrible side effects, ranging from bugs crawling out of their skin to hearing someone scream at them nonstop until they lose their minds. [14] If you’re ever offered PCP, don’t even consider trying it. You will regret it.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs4/4440/index.htm
      2. ↑ https://www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs11/12208/index.htm
      3. ↑ https://www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs4/4440/index.htm
      4. ↑ https://genius.com/A-boogie-wit-da-hoodie-say-a-lyrics
      5. ↑ https://www.vice.com/en/article/pcp-america-pcp-use-washington-dc/
      6. ↑ https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/3wfzgpa
      7. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3568288/
      8. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3568288/
      9. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2859735/
      1. ↑ https://drugabuse.com/drugs/hallucinogens/pcp/effects-use/
      2. ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S147148920400195X
      3. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002526.htm
      4. ↑ https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/special-topic/substance-use-phencyclidine-pcp
      5. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2859735/

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