Inhalants

Inhalants are household or industrial products, such as spray paint, rubber cement, correction fluid, or gasoline, that when inhaled produce a psychoactive effect. The term refers to substances that usually not ingested in any other fashion. However, there are a few gases that are used for medical purposes such as nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, found in a dental offices and operating rooms. Amyl nitrite (commonly known as poppers) is used to treat heart disease such as angina. When used for medical purposes, the gases increase the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart.

There are four categories of substances used as inhalants, they include: volatile solvents (such as cleaning fluids), aerosols (such as vegetable oil sprays), gases (such as butane lighters), and nitrites (such as video head cleaner). Primary abusers of inhalants are adolescents but there are adults who engage in huffing, bagging, and sniffing. When inhaled, these gases produce a psychoactive effect. Increased misuse of legal products like aerosol sprays by those under the age of 18 has prompted vendors to ask for proof of age.

Signs and Symptoms of Inhalant Abuse

Dizziness
Fainting
Shortness of Breath
Prolonged Headaches
Lightheadedness
Mood Swings
Facial Blisters
Rash
Fatigue
Nausea
Vomiting
Heart Palpitations
Death

What is the Social Costs of Inhalant?
Neurological impairment, brain damage and, psychological problems from inhalant abuse affect the productive lives of young teens. This is especially true for adolescents and teens because their brains are still developing. The longer the young use inhalants the more profound the damage. Hearing loss, limb spasms, central nervous system damage, kidney and liver damage can occur. Oxygen depletion to the cells, hypoxia, can cause the loss of the ability to learn new things or to have a focused conversation. The risk of HIV/AIDS is increased as well. (source: NIDA)

Inhalant Withdrawal

Hallucination
Visual disturbances such as seeing spots
Anxiety
Irritability
Difficulty Concentrating
Muscle Spasms
Depression
Grand Mal seizures

For anyone abusing inhalants, the damage can be serious and irreversible. Medical help should be sought to address inhalant addiction.

Slang terms for inhalants
Air blast, Bullet Bolt, Buzz Bomb, Discorama, Heart On, , Hippie Crack, 47 Huff, Medusa, Moon Gas, Oz, Poor Man’s Pot, Rush, Snappers, Satan’s Secret, Spray, Texas Shoeshine, Thrust, Toilet Water, Whippets, Whiteout. Other street names include inhaling other substances.