Inhalants Facts |
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What are Inhalants?
Inhalants are volatile substances that produce
chemical vapors that can be inhaled to induce Psychoactive, or
mind-altering, effects. Although other abused substances can be
inhaled, the term "inhalants" is used to describe a variety of
substances whose main common characteristic is that they are rarely, if
ever, taken by any route other than inhalation. Many young people
breathe the vapors from these products hoping for a quick high, unaware
of the serious health consequences of their actions.
Common household inhalant products:
Common medical/industrial inhalant products:
Types of InhalantsVolatile SolventsVolatile solvents are liquids that vaporize at room temperature. They are found in:
Gases Gases include household or commercial products such as:
Aerosols Aerosols are sprays that contain propellants and solvents. Some common aerosols include:
Nitrites
Nitrites are a special class of inhalants. While other inhalants are
used to alter mood, organic nitrites are used primarily as sexual
enhancers. Organic nitrites include amyl, butyl, and cyclohexyl
nitrites and other related compounds, and are commonly known as
"poppers." Amyl nitrite was used in the past to alleviate chest pain
and is sometimes used today for diagnostic purposes in heart
examinations. Most poppers contain isobutyl nitrite or Butyl nitrite.
These nitrites are often sold in small brown bottles and labeled as
"video head cleaner," "room odorizer," "leather cleaner," or "liquid
aroma."
How Are Inhalants Abused?Inhalants can be breathed in through the nose or the mouth in a variety of ways, such as:
Because Intoxication lasts only a few minutes, abusers frequently try to prolong the high by continuing to inhale repeatedly over the course of several hours, a very dangerous practice. What Are the Health Hazards Associated With Inhalants?Animal and human research show that most inhalants are extremely toxic:
What Are the Effects of Inhalant Use?Most inhalants act directly on the Central nervous system (CNS) to produce psychoactive, or mind-altering, effects. They have short-term effects similar to anesthetics, which slow the body's functions. * Nearly all abused inhalants, other than nitrites, produce a pleasurable effect by depressing the CNS. * Nitrites make the heart beat faster and produce a sensation of heat and excitement. * Inhaled chemicals are rapidly absorbed through the lungs into the bloodstream and are quickly distributed to the brain and other organs. * Within minutes of inhaling, the user experiences intoxication along with other effects similar to those produced by Alcohol. Alcohol-like effects include slurred speech, muscle weakness, belligerence, apathy, impaired judgment, euphoria, and dizziness. In addition, users may experience lightheadedness, Hallucinations, and delusions. * Toluene can produce headache, euphoria, giddy feelings, and an inability to coordinate movements. Exposure to high doses can cause confusion and delirium. Nausea and vomiting are other common side effects. * Successive inhalations may make users feel less inhibited and less in control. Continued use of inhalants in sufficient amounts can produce anesthesia, a loss of sensation, and unconsciousness. After using inhalants heavily, abusers may feel drowsy for several hours and experience a lingering headache. * Many individuals who abuse inhalants for prolonged periods over many days report a strong need to continue using them. Compulsive use and a mild Withdrawal syndrome can occur with long-term inhalant abuse. Long-term inhalant abusers may exhibit other symptoms, including weight loss, muscle weakness, disorientation, inattentiveness, lack of coordination, irritability, and depression. Hazards of Chemicals Found in Commonly Abused Inhalants amyl nitrite, butyl nitrite ("poppers," "video head cleaner") sudden sniffing death syndrome, suppressed immunologic function, injury to red blood cells (interfering with oxygen supply to vital tissues) benzene (found in gasoline) bone marrow injury, impaired immunologic function, increased risk of leukemia, reproductive system toxicity butane, propane (found in lighter fluid, hair and paint sprays) sudden sniffing death syndrome via cardiac effects, serious burn injuries (because of flammability) freon (used as a refrigerant and aerosol propellant) sudden sniffing death syndrome, respiratory obstruction and death (from sudden cooling/cold injury to airways), liver damage methylene chloride (found in paint thinners and removers, degreasers) reduction of oxygen-carrying capacity of blood, changes to the heart muscle and heartbeat nitrous oxide ("laughing gas"), hexane death from lack of oxygen to the brain, altered perception and motor coordination, loss of sensation, limb spasms, blackouts caused by blood pressure changes, depression of heart muscle functioning toluene (found in gasoline, paint thinners and removers, correction fluid) brain damage (loss of brain tissue mass, impaired cognition, gait disturbance, loss of coordination, loss of equilibrium, limb spasms, hearing and vision loss), liver and kidney damage trichlorethylene (found in spot removers, degreasers) sudden sniffing death syndrome, cirrhosis of the liver, reproductive complications, hearing and vision damage. Who Abuses Inhalants?
How Can Inhalant Abuse Be Recognized?
Early identification and Intervention are the best ways to stop
inhalant abuse before it causes serious health consequences. Parents,
educators, family physicians, and other health care practitioners
should be alert to the following signs of a serious inhalant abuse
problem:
Source: The National Institute on Drug abuse (NIDA)
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