inhalants
What are they?
Inhalants are a range of chemicals found in many common household products that are used and abused as a new class of drugs to create a mind-altering effect. Inhalants are known as the specific types of substances that can produce a high through inhalation of chemical vapors. Inhaled chemicals are rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream and diffused throughout the body and brain. Within the seconds of inhalation, users feel a quick rush of an intoxicating high, much like alcohol’s effects. The processess of using inhalants are called huffing as well as dusting.
Some common slang used to talk about inhalants are:
-"laughing gas" (nitrous oxide)
-"snappers"
- "poppers" "whippets", "bold", and "rush"
(nitrites)
Statistics and Facts:
**In 2009, 2.1 million Americans age 12 and older had abused inhalants.
***The NIDA-funded 2010 Monitoring the Future Study showed that 8.1% of 8th graders, 5.7% of 10 graders, and 3.6% of 12th graders had abused inhalants at least once in the year before being surveyed.
Inhalants are a range of chemicals found in many common household products that are used and abused as a new class of drugs to create a mind-altering effect. Inhalants are known as the specific types of substances that can produce a high through inhalation of chemical vapors. Inhaled chemicals are rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream and diffused throughout the body and brain. Within the seconds of inhalation, users feel a quick rush of an intoxicating high, much like alcohol’s effects. The processess of using inhalants are called huffing as well as dusting.
Some common slang used to talk about inhalants are:
-"laughing gas" (nitrous oxide)
-"snappers"
- "poppers" "whippets", "bold", and "rush"
(nitrites)
Statistics and Facts:
**In 2009, 2.1 million Americans age 12 and older had abused inhalants.
***The NIDA-funded 2010 Monitoring the Future Study showed that 8.1% of 8th graders, 5.7% of 10 graders, and 3.6% of 12th graders had abused inhalants at least once in the year before being surveyed.
What are the types of Inhanlants?
-Volatile solvents are liquids that become a gas at room temperature which include paint thinners, glue, felt-tip markers, correction fluids, and nail polish remover
-Gases such as lighters, anesthetics, propane tanks
-Aerosol sprays are some of the most prevalent inhalants in the home which include spray paint, deodorant, hairsprays, vegetable oil, cooking sprays, and static cling sprays
-Nitrites dilate the blood vessels and relax the muscles and for sexual enhancers such as cyclohexyl
nitrite, isoamyl (amyl) nitrite, and isobutyl (butyl) nitrite
-Gases such as lighters, anesthetics, propane tanks
-Aerosol sprays are some of the most prevalent inhalants in the home which include spray paint, deodorant, hairsprays, vegetable oil, cooking sprays, and static cling sprays
-Nitrites dilate the blood vessels and relax the muscles and for sexual enhancers such as cyclohexyl
nitrite, isoamyl (amyl) nitrite, and isobutyl (butyl) nitrite
HOw it happens
People inhale in different ways, much of which includes sniffing, snorting, or spraying the inhalant directly into the nose or mouth, putting it into a bag or other container and then inhaling from there, putting the vapor onto a rag, or inhaling nitrous oxide from balloons. As this happens, inhalants produce a temporary high on the user. Since the time frame of the high is so minimal, this creates the growing problem of an addiction as users will continue to do over again to maintain the feeling many times per day. Since inhalants are known as the "household killers" and anyone really has the easy access of reaching them, this makes it easier to do on a consistent basis and make withdrawl that much harder for abusers who are so close within the common cold dusters, window cleaners, and markers.
Once the vapors enter the body, some are absorbed by parts of the
brain and nervous system. All of the inhalants slow down the
body's functions, similar to the effects of drinking alcohol. At first someone
gets excited, but then gets tired, has trouble speaking clearly or walking well,
and feels confused and unbalanced. It takes about 2 weeks for the chemical to completely pass from the body.
Once the vapors enter the body, some are absorbed by parts of the
brain and nervous system. All of the inhalants slow down the
body's functions, similar to the effects of drinking alcohol. At first someone
gets excited, but then gets tired, has trouble speaking clearly or walking well,
and feels confused and unbalanced. It takes about 2 weeks for the chemical to completely pass from the body.
effects of inhaling Chemicals
Short-term effects include:
-Increased heart rate
-Hallucinations
-Nausea and vomiting
-Loss of coordination
-Splurred speech
-Losing feeling or consiousness
Long-Term effects include:
-Depression
-Loss of oxygen and breathing
-Loss of smell and hearing
-Muscle weakness
-Severe liver, kidney, heart and brain damage
-Increased heart rate
-Hallucinations
-Nausea and vomiting
-Loss of coordination
-Splurred speech
-Losing feeling or consiousness
Long-Term effects include:
-Depression
-Loss of oxygen and breathing
-Loss of smell and hearing
-Muscle weakness
-Severe liver, kidney, heart and brain damage
Effects of inhalants on the brain
A long term inhalant can break down myelin, a protective layer on the brain that protects nerve cells. When this happens the nerve cells are not able to transmit messages as efficiently, which can cause muscle spasms and tremors or even paralysis and permanent difficulty with mobility, and speech. These effects are similar to what happens to patients with multiple sclerosis, which is also a disease that also affects myelin. This permanent brain damage limits life as the toxic chemicals can severely damage the frontal lobe of the brain that make learning, planning and problem solving a major difficulty and dramatic life change. Treatment options for you or someone you know who is suffering from abusing inhalants, reabilitation sessions are the best treatment options available to assist in relieving the problem before major damage from the toxic chemicals take a large toll on your body.
References:
Acetone inhaling. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.acetoneinhaling.zoomshare.com/
Commonly abused drugs chart . (2011, March ). Retrieved from http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/commonly-abused-drugs/commonly-abused-drugs-chart
Durani , Y. (2012, January ). Inhalants. Retrieved from http://kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/drugs/inhalants.html
Facts on drugs. (2013, February 08). Retrieved from http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/inhalants
Inhalants . (2012, December). Retrieved from http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/inhalants
Inhalant abuse . (2012, July). Retrieved from http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/inhalant-abuse/what-are-other-medical-consequences-
Inhalants and related disorders . (2013). Retrieved from http://www.minddisorders.com/Flu-Inv/Inhalants-and-related-disorders.html
radkids on..inhalant abuse. (2009, April 29). Retrieved from http://tucsonradkids.blogspot.com/2008/04/radkids-oninhalant-abuse.html
Acetone inhaling. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.acetoneinhaling.zoomshare.com/
Commonly abused drugs chart . (2011, March ). Retrieved from http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/commonly-abused-drugs/commonly-abused-drugs-chart
Durani , Y. (2012, January ). Inhalants. Retrieved from http://kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/drugs/inhalants.html
Facts on drugs. (2013, February 08). Retrieved from http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts/inhalants
Inhalants . (2012, December). Retrieved from http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/inhalants
Inhalant abuse . (2012, July). Retrieved from http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/inhalant-abuse/what-are-other-medical-consequences-
Inhalants and related disorders . (2013). Retrieved from http://www.minddisorders.com/Flu-Inv/Inhalants-and-related-disorders.html
radkids on..inhalant abuse. (2009, April 29). Retrieved from http://tucsonradkids.blogspot.com/2008/04/radkids-oninhalant-abuse.html