NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – A chemical used to preserve the dead is being mixed with PCP to create a popular drug that had fallen off in popularity.

The combination of embalming fluid and PCP is called “Wet.”

Addiction Campuses is putting out an alert about the drug because their Brentwood-based call center is receiving more calls from users of the drug and their family members.

Wet is put on cigarettes or rolled in with marijuana and then smoked. Some of the other slang terms it goes under are “death stick” and “fry stick,” according to Addiction Campuses.

“Think about it, people are taking something used to preserve the dead and kill organisms into their bodies,” Addiction Campuses Public Relations Manager Brian Sullivan said. “The effects can be hallucinations and can cause people to do dangerous things, including commit murder.”

Sullivan said Wet is an example of a drug that was popular decades ago and is now making a comeback.

“These drug dealers are running a business, illegal or not, it’s a business and they have a CEO and distributors,” Sullivan said. “They market these drugs to young people and with some of these drugs they are not considered illegal because legislation hasn’t caught up with the drug.”

He continued, “A lot of times when we start to understand a new drug and figure out what it does, another drug is hitting the streets.”

Sullivan said people in their 20s and even 30s are also calling in because they are becoming addicted to Wet.

According to the U.S. Justice Department, PCP produces unpleasant psychological effects, and users often become violent or suicidal.

The department also said PCP poses risks for young people because even moderate PCP use can negatively affect normal growth and development.

Some of the side effects of PCP use can include seizures, coma and even death.

Embalming fluid also has dangerous side effects, including bronchitis, body tissue destruction, brain damage, lung damage, impaired coordination, sores in the throat, in the nose and in the esophagus.

Also, embalming fluid is extremely carcinogenic.

Because cigarettes soaked with embalming fluid tend to burn more slowly, users may experience increased negative side effects.

Addiction Campuses have a 24/7 substance abuse hotline at 1-888-614-2251. They also have confidential chats at AddictionCampuses.com.