Inhalents

The term "inhalants" refers to more than a thousand household and commercial products that can be abused by inhaling them through one's mouth or nose for an intoxicating effect. These products are composed of volatile solvents and substances commonly found in commercial adhesives, lighter fluids, cleaning solvents, and paint products. Their easy accessibility, low cost, and ease of concealment make inhalants one of the first substances abused.

Effects

The effects of inhalant use resemble alcohol inebriation. Upon inhalation, the body becomes starved of oxygen, forcing the heart to beat more rapidly in an attempt to increase blood flow to the brain. The user initially experiences stimulation, a loss of inhibition, and a distorted perception of reality and spatial relations. After a few minutes, the senses become depressed and a sense of lethargy arises as the body attempts to stabilize blood flow to the brain, usually referred to as a "head rush." Users can become intoxicated several times over a few hours because of a chemical's short-acting, rapid-onset effect. Many users also experience headaches, nausea, vomiting, slurred speech, loss of coordination, and wheezing.

Heavy or sustained use of inhalants can cause tolerance and physical withdrawal symptoms within several hours to a few days after use. Withdrawal symptoms may include sweating, rapid pulse, hand tremors, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, physical agitation, anxiety, hallucinations, and grand mal seizures. Indicators of inhalant abuse include paint or stains on the body or clothing, spots or sores around the mouth, red or runny eyes and nose, chemical odor on the breath, a drunken or dazed appearance, loss of appetite, excitability, and/or irritability.

Commonly Abused Commercial Products

Adhesives:
Model airplane glue, rubber cement, household glue.

Aerosols:
Spray paint, hair spray, air freshener, deodorant, fabric protector.

Anesthetics:
Nitrous oxide, ether, chloroform.

Cleaning agents:
Dry cleaning fluid, spot remover, degreaser.

Food products:
Vegetable cooking spray, "whippets" (nitrous oxide).

Gases:
Nitrous oxide, butane, propane, helium.

Solvents and gases:
Nail polish remover, paint thinner, typing correction fluid and thinner, toxic markers, pure toluene, toluol, cigar lighter fluid, gasoline.

Consequences of Use

There is a common link between inhalant abuse and problems in school such as failing grades, memory loss, learning problems, chronic absences, and general apathy. Inhalant users tend to be disruptive, deviant, or delinquent because of the early onset of use, the user’s lack of physical and emotional maturation, and the physical consequences of extended use.

According to Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) emergency department (ED) data, in 1994 there were 1,511 reported mentions of inhalants. This number increased to 2,225 in 1997 and sharply declined to 676 in 2001. Preliminary data for the first half of 2002 showed that there were 559 reported mentions of inhalants.

During 2001, approximately 47% of ED inhalant mentions were for people 35 years old or older. Unexpected reaction was cited in 41% of inhalant-related ED visits and was the most frequently mentioned reason for visiting the emergency department after using an inhalant.

During 1999, 129 inhalant abuse deaths were reported to DAWN by 139 medical examiner facilities in 40 metropolitan areas across the United States. This was up from 103 inhalant abuse deaths in 1998.

DAWN's 2000 medical examiner report was redesigned from its previous format and presents only regional data without national totals. Out of the 43 metropolitan areas studied during 2000, only the cities of Dallas, Louisville, Oklahoma City, and St. Louis reported more than 4 mentions of inhalant drug-related deaths.

Treatment

According to the Treatment Episode Data Set, inhalants were reported as the primary substance of abuse in 1,251 (0.1%) admissions to treatment facilities in 2000. People admitted for inhalant abuse were generally under age 18 (44%), male (72%), and non-Hispanic White (66%). Twenty-eight percent of those admitted reported daily use of inhalants, and almost 26% admitted using inhalants by age 12.

Damage to Body Caused by Inhalants

Acoustic nerve and muscle
Destruction of cells that relay sound to the brain may cause deafness.

Blood
The oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood can be inhibited.

Bone marrow
Components containing benzene have been shown to cause leukemia.

Brain
Damage is also caused to the cerebral cortex and the cerebellum, resulting in personality changes, memory impairment, hallucinations, loss of coordination, and slurred speech.

Heart
Sudden sniffing death (SSD) syndrome,* an unexpected disturbance in the heart's rhythm, may cause fatal cardiac arrhythmias (heart failure).

Kidneys
The kidney's ability to control the amount of acid in the blood may be impaired. Kidney stones may develop after use is terminated.

Liver
Gathering of fatty tissue may cause liver damage.

Lungs
Damaged lungs and impaired breathing occurs with repeated use.

Muscle
Chronic use can lead to muscle wasting and reduced muscle tone and strength.

Peripheral nervous system
Damage to the nerves may result in numbness, tingling, and paralysis.

Skin
A severe rash around the nose and mouth, referred to as "glue sniffer's rash," may result.

*SSD syndrome may result when a user deeply inhales a chemical for the effect of intoxication. This causes a decrease in available oxygen in the body. If the user becomes startled or engages in sudden physical activity, an increased flow of adrenalin from the brain to the heart induces cardiac arrest