Sherms are part of the latest drug use craze. It's believed that they originated from South Central Los Angeles. This form of substance abuse is referred to in rap lyrics and has played a part on influencing those who are vulnerable. Drug counselors, particularly those in large U.S. urban centers are all too familiar with its intense and sometimes volatile high.
What is Sherm?
A sherm is simply a cigarette soaked in formaldehyde and dried. Formaldehyde is the fluid that humans are preserved with after death. Cigarettes can also be dipped into embalming fluid which is a compound of formaldehyde, methanol, ethanol and other solvents. Phencyclidine, better known as pcp (angel dust) is another substance that cigarettes can be dipped into. A sherm stick is known to some as a marijuana cigarette dipped in embalming fluid, dried, then smoked.
What is in Formaldehyde?
Formaldehyde is a colorless, toxic, water-soluble gas. It has a suffocating odor and is derived from methyl alcohol by oxidation. As well as a scientific preservative, it is a disinfectant and used in the manufacturing of various resins and plastics. Combine this with some of the 4000 chemicals found in a cigarette and this becomes a possible death sentence.
Short Term Effects of Smoking Sherm
Sherm smoking is an accessible method of feeling omniscient or totally removed from reality. The documentary “American Drug War: The Last White Hope ” directed by Kevin Booth, shows the horrible reality of a person high on sherm. A naked man was stopped by police walking the streets attempting to insert ice cubes rectally. Police are faced with an increase of individuals high on sherms.
Sherms can make a person violent and paranoid. Drug counselors state that to people smoking this, everything moves fast. Hallucinations and the feeling of the body warming up is a common side effect. The desire to remove clothing is very strong and the ability to think straight is gone. What's suspected to be worse is if an person is on psychotropic medications and smoking sherm, hallucinogens can be horrific. The worst case scenario of side effects is that there are people high on sherm totally losing reality and commit murder.
Bottom line, the high can last several hours and many users find that after they come down they have done things that they regret. For those who have committed murder, their cheap thrill sent them into a life-long sentence in the penal system.
Long Term Effects
Some people have gone into comas, experienced kidney failure and had strokes. Brain damage for long term users can occur. Addiction is another possibility due to the combination of chemicals with the nicotine.
Educate Your Children
Parents need to be aware of this trend and should take every precaution to speak to their children about the horrible reality of this drug. The arduous task of staying current on what is on the streets is essential in order to help avert tragedy in more families across North America.
Words associated to sherm smoking to be aware of are: wet, sherm, sherm stick, fly, dank, amp or illy.
Take the time to talk to your children about this recreational drug.
Further Reading:
Smoking Sherm
Cigarettes are a Chemical Cocktail
Karen Stephenson - Karen has written for several newspapers and print media in addition to many online publications. She holds a B.A. in English and an ...
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