inhalants

What Are Inhalants?

cans When most people think of drug abuse they think of marijuana, cocaine, acid, or heroin, they often don’t think of paint thinner, nail polish remover, or air freshener. Some of the most lethal drugs are easier to obtain than illegal ones. They are right in your house; in your bathroom and in your kitchen.

We can find them in the drawers of our desks, in our cabinets, in schools, and lined up on grocery store shelves. Things like paint, magic markers, white out, lighter fluid, hair sprays, glues, propane, and kerosene. Things that are cheap and easy to obtain, but when inhaled can prove fatal.

These products and other strong-smelling items are being abused by children and teenagers around the world because they are readily available and inexpensive. These and a 1,000 other everyday household products are abused by kids to get a quick high. Most kids think these products are harmless, they are NOT!

The reality is that hundreds of children each year die from inhalant use, sometimes on their first try.

What is inhalant use?

Inhalant use refers to the intentional breathing of gas or vapors with the purpose of reaching a high. Inhalants are legal, everyday products which have a useful purpose, but can be misused. You’re probably familiar with many of these substances — paint, glue and others. But you probably don’t know that there are more than 1,000 products that are very dangerous when inhaled — things like typewriter correction fluid, air-conditioning refrigerant, felt tip markers, spray paint, air freshener, butane and even cooking spray.

What Is Huffing Or Bagging?

Huffing, sniffing or bagging is when someone puts an aerosol or solvent in an almost closed container, such as a sandwich bag, paper bag, or soda can and breaths in the fumes. Some people increase the effect by inhaling from a plastic bag breathing through the nose and mouth; Aerosols are usually put between the teeth with the top off ejecting the spray down the throat.

Inhalants are the third most abused substances among 12 to 14 year olds in the United States, coming in right behind alcohol and tobacco. As many as one in five students in the United States has tried inhalants by the time they reach the seventh grade, some while they are on school property.

Signs Of Use

Some of the signs of inhalant abuse include: red or runny eyes and/or nose, spots and/or sores around the mouth; unusual breath; drunk, dazed or dizzy appearance; correction fluid (white out) on fingernails; paint or marker stains on clothing or skin.

How Do Inhalants Work?

Inhalants pass through the lungs and quickly enter the bloodstream, then they reach the brain in seconds. Inhalant vapors react with fatty tissue in the brain, literally dissolving them. So, chronic inhalant abusers may permanently lose the ability to walk, talk and think. Inhalants also slow down the body’s reactions and distort the thinking process. The effects last only a few moments and when they wear off, the user may be irritable and depressed.

Users of inhalants say they make them feel less inhibited. The effects are similar to alcohol and other sedatives. High dosages can produce laughing, feelings of floating, illusions, time and space distortions. These effects can last from five minutes to an hour, depending on the substance used and the amount.

Physical Risks

  • Double vision
  • Loss of coordination
  • Severe headaches
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Heart problems
  • Death — prolonged use of inhalants kill brain cells, shut down liver and kidney function and damage bone marrow

Mental Health & Behavior Risks

  • Impaired judgment
  • Confusion
  • Fright
  • Hyperactivity
  • Anxiety
  • Acute psychosis
  • Increase in violent or aggressive behavior

INHALANT USE CHART

Inhalants act on the brain and destroy the outer lining of nerve cells, making it impossible for those cells to communicate. Symptoms of use include dilated pupils, blisters or rash around the nose or mouth, chronic cough, nausea and headaches, disorientation, chemical odor on breath. After only six months of use, the brain, lungs, nerves, liver, kidneys and bones may be permanently damaged.

Using inhalants even one time can put you at risk for:
sudden death suffocation visual hallucinations and severe mood swings numbness and tingling of the hands and feet
Prolonged use can result in:
headaches, muscle weakness, abdominal pain decrease or loss of sense of smell nausea and nose bleeds hepatitis
violent behaviors i rregular heartbeat & palpitations liver, lung, and kidney impairment involuntary passing of urine and feces
irreversible brain damage nervous system damage dangerous chemical imbalances in the body breathing difficulty

Legal Risks

handcuffsThere are laws to regulate inhalants. Depending on state and local laws, and the type of inhalant used, a user may risk a fine and even a prison term. Try putting that on a college or job application. In several states that we checked, teens did get busted when parents turned them into the police. FYI.

Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome

The user can also suffer from this syndrome. This means the user can die the first,10th, or 100th, time he or she uses.

What Can YOU Do If Someone Is Huffing And In Physical Crisis?

If someone you know is huffing, the best thing to do is remain calm and seek help. Agitation or confrontation may cause the user to become violent, experience hallucinations, or suffer heart dysfunction. If the person is not breathing, start rescue breathing. Make sure the room is well ventilated, open any windows and telephone call 911 in the U.S. and Canada. (For other countries, see our First Aid page.) The number for the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition is telephone 1-800-269-4327

Can Inhalant Use Be Treated?

Yes, but treatment facilities for inhalant use are often hard to find. Users suffer a high rate of relapse and require thirty to forty days or more of detoxification after heavy use. Users suffer withdrawal symptoms which can include hallucinations, nausea, tremors, excessive sweating, headaches, and delirium tremens.

Amy - Teen's Health Expert

By Amy - Teen's Health Expert

Discover the dedicated author behind Teen Health Secrets, an experienced expert committed to providing in-depth knowledge and guidance on various aspects of teen health, ensuring young individuals lead healthy, informed lives.