Inhalants

Dec. 29, 2016 | Inhalants are a diverse group of substances whose chemical vapors can be inhaled to produce mind-altering effects. While many other substances can be abused by inhaling them, the term “inhalants” is used to describe substances that are rarely, if ever, taken by any other route of administration, such as by injection or by mouth. A variety of products common in the home and workplace contain substances that can be inhaled to get high but people do not typically think of these products, such as spray paints and cleaning fluids, as drugs because they are not intended to induce intoxicating effects. However, young children and adolescents can easily obtain these extremely toxic substances, and are among those most likely to abuse them. In fact, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, more 8th graders have tried inhalants than any other illicit drug. The most commonly abused inhalants by children ages 12 to 15 are shoe polish, spray paint, gasoline and lighter fluid.

Dec. 29, 2016 | The use of inhalants can begin at a very young age. A 2015 National Institute on Drug Abuse survey found that 4.6 percent of eighth graders survey had tried inhalants at least once in the past year. Inhalants also are one of the few substances that younger children abuse more than older ones do. Yet, inhalant abuse can become chronic and extend into adulthood. Many kids think inhalants are a harmless way to “catch a buzz.” Indeed, inhalants can be found around the house or purchased at the local grocery store. What kids often don’t know is that, in some cases, the harmful effects of inhalants can be irreversible. The chemicals in the vapors change the way the brain works, making the user feel very good for a short time. However, some individuals who abuse inhalants heavily and for a long time develop a strong need to continue using inhalants, just to feel normal. Compulsive use and a mild withdrawal syndrome can occur with long-term inhalant abuse.

Dec. 29, 2016 | The inhalants most commonly abused fall into several categories. The volatile solvents, which are liquids that vaporize at room temperature, include industrial or household products such as paint thinners, dry-cleaning fluids, gas and lighter fluid. Art or office supplies, including correction fluids, felt-tip marker fluid and electronic contact cleaners fall into this category.  Aerosols, sprays that contain propellants and solvents, range from spray paints and deodorants to computer cleaning products and vegetable oil sprays. Some gases, found in household and commercial products or used as medical anesthetics, may be abused, including butane lighters, whipped cream cans, refrigerant gases and nitrous oxide, better known as laughing gas. The street name for volatile organic nitrites including cyclohexyl, butyl, and amyl nitrites, is “poppers.” When marketed for illicit use, they are often sold in small brown bottles labeled as “room odorizer” or “liquid aroma.”

Dec. 29, 2016 | Inhalants can be abused in a variety of ways, such as sniffing or snorting fumes from a container, spraying aerosols directly into the nose or mouth, or placing an inhalant-soaked rag in the mouth, a practice known as “huffing.” Users may also inhale fumes from a balloon or a plastic or paper bag that contains an inhalant. The intoxication produced by inhalants usually lasts just a few minutes, so users often try to extend the “high” by repeatedly using the inhalant over several hours.  Parents, friends, and teachers should be aware of signs of possible inhalant use. These include chemical odors on the breath or clothing, paint or other stains on face, hands, or clothing and empty paint or solvent containers and chemical-soaked clothing or rags hidden around the house. Drunk or disoriented appearance, slurred speech, nausea or loss of appetite, inattentiveness, a lack of coordination, irritability, and depression are other possible signs of inhalant abuse.

Dec. 29, 2016 | Prolonged sniffing of the highly concentrated chemicals in solvents or aerosol sprays can induce irregular or rapid heart rates and lead to cardiac arrest and death within minutes of a session of prolonged sniffing. This “sudden sniffing death” can result from a single session of inhalant use by an otherwise healthy young person. Regular abuse of these inhalants can result in serious harm to vital organs in the body, including the brain, heart, kidneys, and liver. The vaporous fumes can change brain chemistry and may permanently damage the brain and central nervous system. They can cause abnormalities in brain areas that are involved in movement and the ability to think clearly. Certain inhalants can also cause the body to produce fewer of all types of blood cells, which may result in a serious disorder called aplastic anemia. Other symptoms seen by long-term inhalant abusers include weight loss, disorientation, inattentiveness, irritability, and depression.