People don’t really smoke embalming fluid, do they? While this may sound like nothing more than an urban myth or a fake TikTok challenge, the truth is that some people actually do add embalming fluid to marijuana. As we discuss in today’s post, this is a bad idea for many reasons.
Understanding What Embalming Fluid Is
Embalming fluid is a combination of chemicals that are used to preserve bodies after death.
According to the book Pathobiology of Human Disease, embalming fluid may contain formaldehyde, ethanol, and methanol, as well as sodium nitrate, glycerin, sodium borate, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and various coloring agents.
When used as intended, embalming fluid delays decomposition and helps bodies retain their features, which can be especially valuable when family members prefer to host a viewing prior to their loved one’s burial.
Do People Smoke Embalming Fluid?
If you do an online search for details smoking embalming fluid, you will likely encounter what appears to be conflicting information. One article will affirm that this dangerous practice is real, while another will claim that embalming fluid is a slang term that has been widely misinterpreted.
Somewhat surprisingly, both of these viewpoints appear to be correct:
- Some people dip tobacco or marijuana cigarettes in embalming fluid or components of embalming fluid (such as formaldehyde), then smoke the cigarettes after they have dried.
- Some people use the term “embalming fluid” to describe liquid phencyclidine (PCP), which cigarettes can be dipped in.
- Combining these two approaches, there are also reports of people using formaldehyde or embalming fluid as an agent for adding PCP to cigarettes.
Whether cigarettes are dipped in literal embalming fluid or a PCP-enhanced solution, the result is often referred to as “wet” or “fry.”
Why Are People Smoking Embalming Fluid?
Learning that people actually smoke embalming fluid often prompts a follow-on question: Why would someone do this?
The general answer to this question is that people use embalming fluid in an attempt to enhance the effects of marijuana. Whether they will be successful in this pursuit – and what type of danger they expose themselves to in the process – can depend on what, exactly, they are adding to their marijuana.
PCP (which is sometimes also referred to as angel dust or rocket fuel) is a dissociative anesthetic. Its effects can include hallucinations, distorted perceptions of time and space, improved mood, and deep relaxation. It can also cause a person to become agitated, paranoid, and even violent.
People who soak marijuana cigarettes in formaldehyde or other embalming chemicals may be seeking a similar type of enhanced high. They also believe that marijuana cigarettes that have been soaked in embalming fluid will burn slower, thus allowing them to ingest a greater amount of marijuana from a single joint.
Dangers of Smoking This Substance
It is difficult to overstate how dangerous it is to smoke embalming fluid. Whether we’re discussing actual chemicals that are used to embalm bodies or a solution that contains PCP, anyone who smokes cigarettes that have been soaked in any of these substances may be exposing themselves to considerable harm, including risk of death.
The potential dangers include:
- Hallucinations and delusions
- Paranoia
- Depression
- Physical injuries due to impulsive, reckless, and/or aggressive behaviors
- Being arrested, fined, and jailed due to these behaviors
- Memory loss
- Bronchitis
- Respiratory failure
- Cognitive impairments
- Pulmonary edema
- Cell and tissue death
- Elevated risk of certain types of cancer
- Seizure
- Death
What to Do if You Suspect Someone Is Smoking Embalming Fluid to Get High
If someone in your life has been smoking embalming fluid, they may need immediate professional drug abuse help. Engaging in this particularly hazardous form of substance abuse could be a sign that they have developed a substance use disorder (addiction) or that they are taking extreme measures to numb themselves to overwhelming emotional pain.
The best first step is to schedule an assessment with a doctor, an addiction treatment specialist, or another qualified healthcare provider. Before you can begin to explore treatment options, you need to know the full scope of the challenges that your loved one is dealing with.
The professional who conducts your loved one’s assessment should be able to recommend appropriate programs and types of treatment. Depending on the information that they gather during the assessment, the ideal path forward may include one or more of the following:
- Detoxification
- Residential treatment
- Partial hospitalization program (PHP)
- Intensive outpatient program (IOP)
- Outpatient rehab
- Online/telehealth services
Remember: There is no single “right way” to heal from a substance use disorder. What’s most important is finding a provider who will take the time to fully assess your loved one’s needs and then develop a customized plan just for them.
Contact Los Angeles Detox to Safely Detoxify Yourself Today
Los Angeles Detox is a trusted source of comprehensive, personalized care for adults whose lives have been disrupted by substance abuse, addiction, and certain co-occurring mental health conditions.
You don’t have to wait until a friend or family member hits rock bottom before they can benefit from professional help. This may be particularly true when they are engaging in life-threatening behaviors such as smoking embalming fluid. Choosing to enter treatment minimizes their risk for continued harm. It also gives them a safe and supportive place to begin to heal from any damage.
To learn more about LA Detox or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact page or call us today. We look forward to answering all your questions and helping you decide if our drug rehab center in Los Angeles is the perfect place for your loved one.
