What are inhalants?
There are thousands of inhalants which have legitimate uses but are misused by intentionally breathing the gas or vapors to get high. Most inhalants are legal to purchase over the counter and have a useful purpose but can be easily abused, and can cause brain damage and even death. The activity of sniffing inhalants is usually called “huffing“.
What are some examples of inhalants that get misused?
Typical examples include glue and adhesives, aerosols, cleaning agents, anesthetics, Amyl (“poppers”), and Butyl (“Locker Room”), and paint to name a few.
What do inhalants do to the body?
After huffing the user’s body functions begin to slow down. Depending on how much they have sniffed the user can feel stimulation, loss of inhibition, dizzy, lethargic, and loss of consciousness. Users are subject to Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome, which means they can die during any huffing session and there is no way to predict it. Other dangers include damage to the heart, kidney, brain, liver, bone marrow and other organs.
Statistics: 22% of inhalant abusers who died of Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome had no previous history of inhalant use—they were first-time users
The products that produce the fumes were not meant for recreation, harsh chemicals found in certain products such as industrial paints, adhesives, hair spray, fabric protector, gasoline, paint thinner, and many other common household items are sold legally and legitimately with warning labels. The chemicals cause a euphoric effect when inhaling. Some of these chemicals are benzene (found in gasoline), butane or propane (found in lighter fluid, aerosol paint and hair spray), Freon (found in refrigerant systems), and methyl chloride (found in paint thinners and degreasers. The effects of inhaling fumes are similar to alcohol intoxication: dizziness, slurred speech, blurred vision, impaired motor function, delirium, possible nausea, vomiting, and loss or consciousness. Though inhaling fumes of various products may seam like a fun thing to do, participating in this activity replaces most oxygen intake to the lungs depriving the brain of essential blood/ oxygen levels and can cause lack of oxygen, pneumonia, cardiac arrest and death by hypoxia. Alkyl Nitrites is an inhalant set apart from others. It is a liquid chemical that was once used to ease chest pain and is abused for the fume that when inhaled, produces euphoria, or a heightened sense of sensuality. When the liquid is ingested, it can be poisonous and if in contact with skin, can burn. Unlike other inhalants, alkyl nitrites dilate blood vessels and relax muscles causing immediate decrease in blood pressure risking loss of consciousness and heart attack.
Statistic: The 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that 1.1 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 had used inhalants in the past year
Repeated inhalation of harsh chemicals can cause a psychological dependence and physical withdrawal symptoms including weight loss, muscle weakness, irritability, depression, drowsiness, headache, and loss of consciousness. Because it is so easily accessible, inhalant addiction is common in children and teenagers.
Inhalant Addicts Can Recover
There are options for the treatment for inhalants that include various levels of treatment ranging from out patient to Inpatient hospital care. This is determined by the needs of each individual. It is also encouraged for the inhalant addict to participate in 12-step or abstinence based fellowships such as Narcotics Anonymous.
Be sure to visit our entire Drug Education Videos series and learn more about drug abuse, drug addiction and alcoholism
References
STREET DRUGS: a drug identification guide 2010 National Institute on Drug Abuse: http://drugabuse.gov/
Medline Plus: http://nih.gov/
The Vaults of Erowid: http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/inhalants/inhalants.shtml
Drugs.Com: http://www.drugs.com/search.php?searchterm=inhalants Project Know: http://www.projectknow.com/research/inhalant/
