Facts about Inhalant Abuse

By Jill Gonzalez

Inhalant abuse is a type of drug abuse that is primarily found in children between the ages of 8 and 18. Inhalant abuse poses a particularly difficult problem for parents and other adults to tackle simply because these substances are so easily accessible, legal and inexpensive for kids to obtain.

By the time they have reached the fourth grade, approximately 6 percent of children in the United States will have tried inhalants at least once. The reasons why children decide to experiment with inhalants seem to vary among users, but studies have consistently shown that peer pressure and low self-esteem are the largest determining factors.

A Serious Public Health Issue

Inhalant abuse has become an epidemic among young people, with more than 22 percent of children between the ages of 11 and 14 admitting to the regular use of inhalants in an attempt to get high. According to data collected from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, more than 2 million teens in the United States have inhaled or sniffed a substance such as gasoline, spray paint or solvents, and the problem continues to worsen each year.

Many young children and adolescents start using inhalants because they mistakenly believe that inhalants pose no great threat to their health. Research has shown, however, that inhalants affect the same areas of the brain as amphetamines and cocaine, and use of these substances may also lead to permanent brain damage.

One of the most difficult aspects of dealing with inhalant abuse as a societal problem is simply being able to properly identify use and abuse among children. The best designed treatment programs are those that have clearly defined steps for identifying and treating inhalant use, as well as advocating for the prevention of inhalant use in the first place.

What are Inhalants?

Inhalants are classified as any substance whose vapors can be inhaled in order to produce effects that are mind-altering. The one characteristic that all inhalants share is that they are very rarely taken via any other route than inhalation.

Generally, inhalants can be classified according to the following:

• Nitrites, which include amyl nitrite, butyl nitrite and cyclohexyl nitrite
• Aerosols, including vegetable oil sprays used for cooking and hair sprays
• Volatile solvents, including glues, degreasers and paint thinners
• Ases, which include nitrous oxide, propane and ether

Effects of Inhalant Use

Inhalant abuse has both short- and long-term effects on the body. The short-term effects include:

• Dizziness
• Impaired judgment
• Headaches
• Hallucinations
• Abdominal pain
• Slow reflexes
• Loss of consciousness
• Numbness
• Tingling in the hands and feet
• Lack of coordination
• Fatigue

Even with just one use of inhalants, a person may feel a bit stimulated. With each successive use, the person will likely become less inhibited and not in complete control of his or her actions. It is not uncommon for people to experience hallucinations right away when using inhalants, and in some cases, unconsciousness may occur.

The long-term effects of inhalant abuse include the following:

• Muscle weakness
• Disorientation
• Weight loss
• Lack of coordination
• Depression
• Kidney and/or liver damage
• Hearing loss
• Brain damage

Anyone who experiments with inhalants should be aware of the possibility of Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome, which can occur with the use of any type of inhalant. Though Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome can occur with any type of inhalant, it is most commonly associated with butane, propane, air conditioning coolant and some aerosol products. This condition usually occurs in conjunction with cardiac arrest, as inhalants cause the heart to beat in a rapid, erratic fashion that often results in death.

Problems with Research

For the most part, scientists have had a difficult time compiling a significant amount of research about the harmful effects of inhalants simply because there are a seemingly endless variety of different products that can be classified as this type of potential drug.

Most ads that are created in an effort to discourage young people from using inhalants are designed to alert kids to the very real possibility of sudden death, which can and does occur in people who use inhalants.

In the very near future, however, scientists would like to be able to do more to counter the threat that this type of drug use and abuse presents to children, so strenuous efforts are being made to expand the amount of research that is presently being conducted. New studies that are now being conducted involve the following:

• Creating new approaches to prevent inhalation use and abuse.
• Understanding the biological and behavioral bases of inhalant use and abuse.
• Developing newer, more effective methods of treating individuals who are chronic inhalant abusers.
• Finding ways to better understand the nature and extent of inhalant abuse.
• Understanding the risk factors (in general and in certain at-risk groups) that directly impact a person's susceptibility for inhalant use.
• Understanding the cognitive, behavioral and neurological consequences (both short and long term) of using inhalants.

Characteristics of Inhalant Abuse

The following signs or symptoms may be present in someone who is using or abusing inhalants:

• Red, watery eyes or runny nose
• Unusual chemical odor on breath or clothes
• Sitting around with a pen or marker near the nose
• Drunken or dizzy appearance
• Nausea or loss of appetite
• Constantly smelling clothing sleeves
• Paint or stain marks on the face, hands or clothing
• Sores around the mouth
• Anxiety or restlessness

Categories

• Drugs
• Addiction
• Recovery

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