The Way Out » Addiction Types » Inhalants

Inhalants

What are Inhalants?

Inhalants are a group of substances whose chemical vapors are inhaled to produce psychoactive effects. Even though other abused substances may be inhaled, “inhalants” is the term used to describe substances that do not enter the body through any other means. There are many products commonly found in the home and in the workplace that contain substances that can be inhaled to get high; however, people normally associate spray paints, glues, and cleaning fluids as inhalant drugs. Young children and adolescents are among those most likely to abuse them.

Data indicates that the primary abusers of most inhalants are adolescents ranging in age from 12 to 17. Of the almost one million people who tried inhalants for the first time in the previous year, almost seventy percent were under 18. Of all the abused drugs, inhalants are the ones most likely abused exclusively by adolescents.

Inhalants typically fall into four categories:

Volatile solvents (liquids that vaporize at room temperature)

These substances include:

• Paint thinners or removers
• degreasers
• dry-cleaning fluids
• gasoline, and lighter fluid
• art and office supply solvents (including correction fluid)
• felt-tip marker fluid
• electronic contact cleaners
• glue

Aerosols (sprays that contain propellants and solvents)

Products in this category include household aerosol propellants used in:

• spray paints,
• hair or deodorant sprays
• fabric protector sprays
• aerosol computer cleaning products
• vegetable oil sprays

Gases (found in household or commercial products and/or used as medical anesthetics)

In this category are household or commercial products, including:

• butane lighters
• propane tanks
• whipped cream aerosols or dispensers
• refrigerant gases
• medical anesthetics, such as
  • ether
  • chloroform
  • halothane
  • nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”)

Nitrites (inhalants used primarily as sexual enhancers)

Substances found in this category include organic nitrites such as

• cyclohexyl
• butyl
• amyl nitrites (commonly known as “poppers”)

Studies show that the inhalant of choice for a user depends on his or her age. Adolescents aged 12–15 most commonly abuse glue, shoe polish, spray paints, gasoline, and lighter fluid; age 16 or 17, the products are nitrous oxide or whippets. Among adults, nitrites are the inhalants most commonly abused.

Inhalants are breathed in through the nose or mouth in a variety of ways (“huffing”), including sniffing or snorting fumes from a container, spraying aerosols directly into the nose or mouth, or placing an inhalant-soaked rag in the mouth. Users may also inhale fumes from a plastic or paper bag containing an inhalant.

Because the high produced by inhalants lasts just a few minutes, users extend their effects by continually repeating the process over several hours.  The effects are similar to those of alcohol, including slurred speech, lack of coordination, euphoria and dizziness, and light-headedness.  Hallucinations and delusions can also result.

Effects of Inhalants

Inhalants deprive the body of oxygen, creating a condition known as hypoxia, which damages cells throughout the body, but especially the cells of the brain. Someone who repeatedly uses inhalants may lose the ability to learn new things or may have a hard time carrying on simple conversations, may have muscle spasms or tremors, and may have permanent impairment of basic motor skills.

Sniffing highly concentrated amounts of the chemicals in solvents or aerosol sprays can directly induce heart failure and death within minutes of a session of repeated inhalation.

Deliberate inhalation from a paper or plastic bag, or in an enclosed area, greatly increases the chances of suffocation.

If you feel that your loved one needs to be in a rehabilitation treatment center for abusing inhalants please feel free to fill out a patient placement form and The Way Out Recovery will aid in placement of your loved one.