Smoking tobacco or marijuana products soaked in liquid chemicals is an extremely high-risk form of substance abuse, often called “wet,” “fry,” or “sherm.” This dangerous method involves dipping smokable material into a liquid commonly, though sometimes inaccurately, called embalming fluid. Users seek an intense and rapid psychoactive experience achieved through combining highly toxic industrial solvents and potent illicit drugs. This practice presents an immediate and severe threat to physical health and neurological function due to inhaling combusted poisonous chemicals.
The Chemical Components and Street Preparation
The substance referred to as embalming fluid is a mixture of potent chemicals designed for preserving human remains, not for human consumption. Its primary active ingredient is formaldehyde, a colorless gas dissolved in water, often stabilized with methanol. Other common solvents, such as ethanol or glutaraldehyde, may also be present. When used illicitly, this industrial concoction is typically combined with or used to dissolve Phencyclidine (PCP), a powerful dissociative drug.
Street preparation involves soaking a cigarette, a marijuana joint, or a blunt in this liquid mixture, which may contain both the embalming chemicals and PCP. The soaked product is then dried and smoked, combusting the material along with the absorbed toxic substances. This delivery method exposes the user to the combined effects of volatile industrial chemicals and the psychoactive drug, creating a profoundly dangerous cocktail. The street name “embalming fluid” is sometimes a misnomer for liquid PCP itself, but the use of actual formaldehyde-containing fluid is a confirmed practice.
The Psychoactive Effects Sought by Users
The motivation for smoking this mixture comes from the effects of Phencyclidine (PCP), a potent dissociative anesthetic. Users seek a profound detachment from reality, including intense hallucinations and an altered sense of self. This dissociative state often manifests as a false sense of euphoria or an illusion of invincibility and heightened physical strength. The combination of chemicals may also cause the cigarette to burn more slowly, which is believed by some users to prolong the duration of the intense high.
The desired effects manifest rapidly, creating a quick and powerful onset of altered consciousness. This includes experiencing vivid perceptual distortions and a profound sense of numbness, contributing to the feeling of being detached from the environment. However, the psychoactive experience is extremely unpredictable and frequently includes severe negative psychological effects, such as paranoia and profound confusion. These negative effects can quickly turn the experience into an acute psychiatric crisis.
Acute Toxicity and Severe Health Outcomes
Inhaling the combusted components introduces toxins like formaldehyde and methanol directly into the respiratory system and bloodstream, leading to immediate and severe health consequences. Formaldehyde causes intense irritation of the mucous membranes, leading to symptoms like sore throat, nasal irritation, and bronchospasm. Smoke inhalation can rapidly cause chemical pneumonitis, a severe inflammation of the lungs. This often progresses to pulmonary edema, fluid buildup that impairs breathing and can lead to respiratory failure.
The systemic absorption of these chemicals results in poisoning that affects multiple organ systems. Methanol metabolizes into highly toxic formic acid, which can cause severe metabolic acidosis and damage to organs, including the kidneys and eyes. Formaldehyde is a recognized human carcinogen, and its inhalation contributes to long-term risks, including cancer of the nose and trachea.
The neurological and psychiatric consequences are equally severe, stemming from the neurotoxicity of both the PCP and the industrial solvents. Users frequently present with acute psychosis characterized by extreme agitation, violent behavior, and profound paranoia that can resemble symptoms of schizophrenia. High doses increase the risk of seizures, coma, and significant long-term neurological damage, including memory loss and difficulty with speech. The unpredictable nature of the street mixture makes accidental overdose and multi-organ failure a significant risk.