Inhalants Alexia Hall

What Are Inhalants?  Inhalants are defined as any products readily found in the home or workplace--such as spray paints, markers, glues, and cleaning fluids.  This definition includes a broad range of chemicals, that may have a variety of different pharmacological effects, and are found in hundreds of different products.  This makes it difficult to categorize inhalants, therefore, the most common classification system lists four general categories of inhalants--volatile solvents, aerosols, gases, and nitrites.

 Volatile Solvents: Liquids that become a gas at room temperature. Ex: paint thinners, gasoline, glue, etc.  Gases: Household and/or commercial products. Ex: whipped cream dispensers, propane tanks, butane lighters, etc.  Aerosal Sprays: Some of the most prevalent inhalants in the home. Ex: spray paint, deodorant, hairspray, etc.  Nitrites: Cyclohexyl nitride, amyl nitrite, and butyl nitrite. On the street, they’re called “poppers” or “snappers.” They’re found in some room deodorizers and capsules that release vapors when opened.

How Do Inhalants Affect the Body?  Vapors are absorbed through the lungs.  Vapors then enter the bloodstream.  Once in the blood, the chemicals travel to the brain and other tissues in the body.

Acute Effects  Confusion  Nausea  Slurred speech  Dizziness

Long-Term Effects  Myelin break down leading to muscle spasms  Tremors  Liver/kidney damage  And when in combination with alcohol, dangerously low blood pressure

Damage to the Body  The chemicals rapidly absorb through the lungs into the bloodstream and quickly reach the brain and other organs, sometimes causing irreversible damage.

Age Group  This drug is very popular amongst young teens, mostly twelve and thirteen-year olds, largely due to the easy access it provides them.  You cannot get addicted; however, these chemical vapors are psychoactive, and mind altering.  National surveys indicate that nearly 21.7 million American have used inhalants at least once in their lives.

How the “High” Works  Inhaled chemicals are absorbed rapidly into the bloodstream through the lungs, and are quickly distributed to the brain and other organs.  Within seconds of inhalation, the user experiences intoxication.  Because intoxication lasts only a few minutes, abusers frequently seek to prolong the high by inhaling repeatedly over the course of several hours.

The Most Popular Inhalant?  “Texas Shoeshine,” which is a shoe- shining spray containing the chemical, Toluene.  Silver and gold spray paints, which contain more toluene than other spray colors, are also extremely popular.

Common Inhalants  Shoe polish  Glue  Gasoline  Lighter Fluid  Nitrous Oxide  Whippets  Spray Paint  Cleaning Fluid  Lacquer Thinner

Different Ways of Using  Sniffing: Users inhale the chemical vapors directly from open containers.  Huffing: Users breathe fumes from rags soaked in chemicals.  Some spray the substance directly into the nose or mouth.  Bagging: Users inhale fumes from substances inside a paper or plastic bag.

“Bagging”

User Spraying Substance into Her Mouth

“Huffing”

Addiction  Because Inhalants are found in most homes, people don’t realize they are incredibly addictive.  People who become addicted to using are likely to become long-term users.  This puts them at risk for depression, severe brain damage, and muscle weakness.

Permanent Physical and Mental Damage  When substances or fumes are inhaled through the nose or mouth, they can cause permanent physical and mental damage.  The users body starves from lack of oxygen, which forces their heart to beat irregularly and rapidly.  People who use inhalants can lose their sense of smell, suffer nausea, and have several nosebleeds.  Inhalants can kill a person by heart attack, or suffocation as the inhaled fumes take the place of oxygen in the lungs and central nervous system.

How Dangerous are Inhalants?  They might seem like an alternative to other mood- altering drugs because they are cheap, can be purchased legally, and are easy to obtain—this doesn’t make them safer.  Chemicals are poisonous to our bodies, that’s why it’s urged to wear gloves and wash hands when being used.  Most inhalants produce effects that slow the body’s functions down.  After the initial high comes drowsiness and light- headedness, which can cause the user to faint, and either fatally injure themselves, or have a heart attack/seizure and die.

THE END