# Name this drug... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 14, 2008, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-drug/456512 "2008-07-14T22:54:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Belrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed655f/32.png) [@Belrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belrix)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-drug/456512/1 "2008-07-14T22:54:38Z")
I was watching Cops yesterday (Yeah, yeah, I know. I like it anyway). The “captured” a 18-year old (or so) guy that was shirtless (what a surprise). The woman who called him in was nearly assaulted by him. He was obviously high on something, he was paranoid (said he was being watched from a RV nearby) violent, raving. When the got him, the police considered themselves lucky they caught him in a calm phase, the drug apparently roller-coasters the taker between calm periods and violent periods. Despite his skinny size, they said he would’ve taken several cops to subdue him since the drug removes the sensation (or acknowledgment) of pain. The drug name alludes me but I had never heard of it before. It was a single syllable, like “stetch” but something else altogether. It comes in “sticks” and they searched several matchbooks he had on him for it since it was “often hidden in matchbooks”. Touching it with bear hands would’ve been enough to trigger a reaction in the searching cop - her fellow cop on-site was warning her to be careful. So - what was it, do you think? 1. Rollercoaster calm-to-violent behavior. 2. High pain tolerance 3. Paranoia 4. “short name” 5. absorbable through skin. 6. Comes in “sticks” ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-drug/456512/2 "2008-07-14T23:02:07Z")
It was sounding like PCP until the part about match-like sticks and being absorbed through the skin in very small amounts. One street name of PCP, is “sherm”, according to Wikipedia. ---
**Author:** ![Belrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed655f/32.png) [@Belrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belrix)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-drug/456512/3 "2008-07-14T23:08:05Z")
[QUOTE=Cosmic Relief] It was sounding like PCP until the part about match-like sticks and being absorbed through the skin in very small amounts. One street name of PCP, is “sherm”, according to Wikipedia. [/QUOTE] SHERM! That was it. Never heard that name. I had no idea what they were talking about. Oh - and “bare hands” - not “bear hands”… …though they are police, maybe both spellings are good. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Belrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed655f/32.png) [@Belrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belrix)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-drug/456512/4 "2008-07-14T23:18:26Z")
Found this [site](http://www.sayno.com/pcp.html) that says: > [@SayNo.com](#): > > As with many other drugs, regular users of PCP may have developed a tolerance to the drug that masks some of the observable signs of PCP’s effects. When smoked or injected, PCP’s effects generally last 4-6 hours, but they can last longer. PCP can also enter the body by absorption through the skin. ..which supports the skin thing. Perhaps “sherm stick” is using a cigarette as a “stick” since dipping a cigarette is a common delivery method. “Sold in capsules, tables, powder and liquid” says another site so I guess you could hide some in a matchbook. Thanks for the info. ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-drug/456512/5 "2008-07-15T00:05:40Z")
The really strange thing is that “sherm” is apparently short for “Sherman Hemsley.” How PCP got that nickname bewilders me. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-drug/456512/6 "2008-07-15T00:13:06Z")
[QUOTE=BrandonR] The really strange thing is that “sherm” is apparently short for “Sherman Hemsley.” How PCP got that nickname bewilders me. [/QUOTE] I heard that “sherm” was derived from William Tecumsah Sherman because of his fits of violence when burning the cities of the south, compared with his calm deliberation before battle. Not really. ---
**Author:** ![diggleblop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@diggleblop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggleblop)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-drug/456512/7 "2008-07-15T01:10:58Z")
Sherman stick is basically a cigarette dipped in pcp. that’s what my uncle always smoked. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-drug/456512/8 "2008-07-15T16:12:42Z")
[QUOTE=BrandonR] The really strange thing is that “sherm” is apparently short for “Sherman Hemsley.” How PCP got that nickname bewilders me. [/QUOTE] Maybe some reference to his behaviour in the _Movin On Up_ roll. [WEEZY!!!](http://www.corporateartists.com/images/shermanhemsley1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-drug/456512/9 "2008-07-15T16:37:56Z")
What? You guys have never heard of [Sherman Cigarettes?](http://www.natsherman.com/) When I smoked they were the best cigarettes I ever had. Top drawer stuff. _grumble grumble_ sherman hemsley…crapola…william sherman…jeeze…damn kids get offa my lawn… ---
**Author:** ![SeanArenas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeanArenas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeanArenas)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-this-drug/456512/10 "2008-07-15T16:43:34Z")
[QUOTE=Rico] You guys have never heard of [Sherman Cigarettes?](http://www.natsherman.com/) When I smoked they were the best cigarettes I ever had. Top drawer stuff. [/QUOTE] Nat Sherms were the best. “Natural Shermans” were also called “Sherms” by my friends who wanted a good tasting smoke. I liked those an Export “A” (from Canada). Blew away Marlboro and other local smokes.