Usage of Inhalants By Kory Maw Life, Society, and Drugs

What is an Inhalant? A solvent or other material producing vapor inhaled by drug abusers. Inhalants are chemical vapors that people inhale on purpose to get high Examples of some inhalants are: Paint, Paint thinners, glues, gasoline, markers, etc.

Types of Inhalants Solvents- Liquids that vaporize in room temperature. Ex: Paint thinner, Nail polish remover, gasoline, degreaser Aerosols- Sprays that contain propellants or solvents. Ex: Spray paint, hair spray, vegetable oil sprays. Gases- Household or commercial products or medical anesthetics. Ex: Butane, propane, whipped cream cans, anesthesia, ether, chloroform. Nitrites-used primarily for sexual enhancers. Ex: amyl, butyl. These are also used by doctors to help with chest pains.

History Inhalants were used back in the ancient times in Egypt, India, Iraq, china, and even ancient Greece. They were used in those countries mainly for religious purposes or ceremonies rather than for recreational usage. They would inhale fumes such as oils, spices, and perfumes that would alter their consciousness for their religious ceremonies During the prohibition inhalants users increased because alcohol became legal causing people to go to drugs with similar effects.. In the 1960’s the usage of using commercial products such as paint, paint thinners, nail polish remover, shoe polish, etc. became popular to use.

Effects on the Brain Some Chemicals leave the body quickly but some actually stay for a long time and get absorbed by fatty tissues in the brain and central nervous system. One of those tissues is called Myelin which acts as a cover that surrounds many nerve fibers. Myelin helps carry messages to and from the brain. Damage will slow down the communication between nerve fibers. It also damages brain by it lacking oxygen. Causing hypoxia. The hippocampus is responsible for memory, so repeated use can cause one to lose the ability to learn new things, or have a hard time carrying conversations. If cerebral cortex is affected it causes one to lose the ability to solve complex problems

Why do people use inhalants? People use Inhalants because they are very easy to find and get without an age limit. The products are legal and used for everyday usage. To escape reality, feel the high Users are usually doing it alone, and depressed. It helps them escape the fact that they don’t fit in. Doesn’t show up on most drug tests. Making it possible for the users to get a high and also pass a drug test for jobs or probation/parole. They love the smell

Immediate Effects The effects of Inhalants are very similar to the effects of alcohol. Dizziness Slurred Speech Impaired coordination Feel lightheaded Nausea Feel disoriented Hallucinations Unconsciousness

Effects Continued The effects are felt very quickly, and seem to feel as if they are drunk. They are only high briefly and then followed by drowsiness that’ll last up to four hours. The more hits the take, the higher the chance of their heart stopping or irregular heat rhythm, blackout/pass out.

Chronic Effects Hearing loss Depression Bone marrow damage Brain damage Memory loss, loss of intelligence Muscle weakness Serious damage to the heart, lungs, kidneys, and liver. Can cause instant heart failure

My strange addiction video WU

How Can Inhalants Be Used Users will Breath vapors through their nose or mouth in the following ways Sniffing from containers Inhaling from fumes sprayed into bags. “bagging” Huffing- inhaling fumes from a rag, or bag. Inhaling balloons filled with nitrous oxide

Who Are Using Inhalants? Inhalants are often the first drugs that adolescents will use. They are one of the few that are used more by adolescents that adults. It can become chronic and continue into adulthood. 8 th graders regularly have the highest rate of usage and gradually descends. Those 8 th graders also don’t consider the usage to be harmful, or risky.

Stories of Users “Jason had been at a friend’s house, sniffing glue or lighter fluid, maybe both. On the way back to school, Jason kept blacking out. Finally, he fell and never got up. By the time we were able to get him to the hospital, it was too late.” —Cathy, parent

Stories of Users Continued “Tomorrow is the sixth anniversary of our son Justin’s death. He was sixteen. He died from inhaling air freshener, an act of inhalant abuse. His senseless death rocked the worlds of all who knew him. Justin was an honors student who loved life and embraced it with enthusiasm. (He was a source of inspiration for many.) I will always be haunted by the question of whether Justin would be with us today had he known about the risks he was taking.” —Jackie, parent

Stories of Users Continued “I actually found myself talking to what I call ‘gas buddies’ (the hallucinations). One day I was huffing and I thought my friend died because the hallucination of him came to me. I found myself huffing not only for the visuals, but for the company of these imaginary ‘friends’ that would come to me when I would start to huff. I have been struggling with this addiction for about seven months now.” —Erik

Stories of Users continued Aaron Hunt, a senior at Mchenry West High School in Wonder Lake Illinois. When the paramedics arrived his heart had already stopped and his brain was going without oxygen for more than ten minutes. He then spent four days on life support when they found out the damage had been way too severe to his brain and removed life support and died. Before this incident, Aaron had been caught smoking marijuana and had to attend counseling and had annual drug tests in which he had passed every time since he quit smoking marijuana. He must have felt like he always needed a high and switched to inhalants. He switched to inhalants because he needed to pass his annual drug tests, and inhalants don’t show up on drug tests, therefore he passed every test and was also getting the high he couldn’t live without

Works Cited