Substance-Related Disorders
Inhalants
- Important Facts
- Symptoms of Intoxication
- Detoxification/Withdrawal Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prenatal Effects
- Negative Consequences
- Warning Signs That Inhalants are a Problem
- For Parents: What to Look for
- For Parents: What to Listen for
Important Facts
- Inhalants are breathable chemical vapors that produce mind-altering effects.
- Inhalants are not usually thought of as drugs, because most of them are intended for other uses.
- Nearly all inhalants produce effects similar to anesthetics, which slow down the body’s functions.
- People using inhalants can get "high" several times over a short period because inhalants are short acting and have a rapid onset.
- Use of inhalants usually occurs before the onset of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana or cocaine use. It often begins in late childhood or early adolescence with chronic use appearing in early to late adolescence.
- In many states, inhalant use is considered a class B misdemeanor with a maximum imprisonment period of 180 days and a maximum fine of $1,000.00.
- There are three categories of inhalants: nitrous oxide, volatile nitrites and petroleum distillates.
- Commonly abused inhalants:
- Air freshener
- Butane
- Chloroform
- Correction fluid and thinner
- Deodorant
- Dessert topping spray
- Dry cleaning fluid
- Ether
- Gasoline
- Hairspray
- Helium
- Household glue
- Lighter fluid
- Model airplane glue
- Nail polish remover
- Nitrite room deodorizers
- Paint thinner
- Propane
- Pure toluene
- Rubber cement
- Spot remover
- Spray paint
- Toxic markers
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Symptoms of Intoxication
- Blurred vision
- Delusions
- Depressed reflexes
- Drowsiness or unconsciousness
- Drunk, dazed or dizzy appearance
- Euphoria (temporary feelings of elation, energy and limitless power)
- Fatigue or sluggish activity
- Lack of coordination
- Muscle weakness
- Rapid eye movement
- Slowed reactions
- Slurred speech
- Staggering or stumbling
- Stupor or coma
- Tremor
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Detoxification/Withdrawal Symptoms
- Illusions, fleeting illusions
- Irritability
- Nausea
- Shaking
- Sleep disturbances
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Treatment
Treatment may involve a variety of therapies including:
- Individual therapy
- Family therapy
- Group therapy
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Prenatal Effects
- Higher risk of miscarriage, stillbirth and possibly lead poisoning in the unborn child.
- Use of inhalants during pregnancy is linked with “Fetal Solvent Syndrome” (symptoms similar to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
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Negative Consequences
- Bone marrow damage
- Dissolves myelin sheath which causes cell death
- Emotional instability
- Hallucinations
- Hearing loss
- Hepatitis
- Intoxication
- Kidney failure
- Learning disabilities
- Leukemia
- Limb spasm
- Loss of coordination
- Loss of muscle tone
- Loss of sense of smell
- Lung, liver, and kidney damage
- Nosebleeds
- Permanent brain shrinkage and damage
- Personality changes
- Potential sudden sniffing death syndrome
- Reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood
- Severe nervous system damage
- Short-term memory loss
- Slurred speech
- Staggering or stumbling
- Thinking, reasoning and memory impairments
- Vision problems (optic neuropathy)
- Widespread slowing of brain activity
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Warning Signs That Inhalant use is a Problem
- Altered perception of reality, sometimes with delusions or hallucinations
- Continued use of inhalant
- Finding it increasingly difficult to resist inhalant when available
- Cutting back or missing important school or recreation activities due to inhalant use
- Solitary inhalant use
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For Parents: What to Look for
- Anxiety, excitability, irritability
- Burns due to flammable nature of inhalant
- Chemical odor on clothes or breath
- Conjunctivitis
- Drunk, dazed or dizzy appearance
- Nausea, loss of appetite
- Neglect of appearance
- Paint or stains on body or clothing
- Problems in school (e.g., lack of interest in school, failing grades, many absences)
- Rash around nose or mouth ("glue sniffer’s rash")
- Red or runny eyes or nose
- Retreat from athletic activities
- Spots or sores around the mouth
- Tubes of glue, glue smears, paper bags or handkerchiefs
- Violent outbursts
- Withdrawal from family or friends
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For Parents: What to Listen for
- Air blast
- Bagging (fumes inhaled from a plastic bag)
- Bang
- Bullet bolt
- Heart-on
- Hippie crack
- Honey oil
- Horn
- Huffing (inhalant soaked rag in the mouth)
- Oz
- Poor man’s pot
- Satan’s secret
- Sniff, sniffing
- Snort, snorting
- Spray
- Toilet water
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