Inhalants

1. Inhalants
Sarah Wigley

2. • “(Inhalants) are especially (but not exclusively) abused by young
children and adolescents, and are the only class of substance abused
more by younger than by older teens.” – National Institute of Drug
Abuse

3. Inhalants
• Although other abused drugs can be inhaled, the
term inhalants is reserved for the wide variety of
substances—including solvents, aerosols, gases,
and nitrites—that are rarely, if ever, taken via
any other route of administration.

4. Statistics
• Over 2.6 million children, aged 12 – 17, use an Inhalant each
year to get high.
• 1 in 4 students in America has intentionally abused a
common household product to get high by the time they reach
the eighth grade.
• Inhalants tend to be the drug that is tried first by children.
• “Sniffing” and “huffing” can begin at age 10 or younger.
• 59% of children are aware of friends huffing at age 12.
• Inhalants are the fourth most-abused substance after alcohol,
tobacco, and marijuana.
• The number of lives claimed by Inhalant Abuse each year is
unknown because these deaths often are attributed to other
causes.

5. Other Terms For Inhalants
• Inhalation is referred to as huffing, sniffing, dusting or
bagging and generally occurs through the nose or mouth.
▫ Huffing is when a chemically soaked rag is held to the face
or stuffed in the mouth and the substance is inhaled.
▫ Sniffing can be done directly from containers, plastic bags,
clothing or rags saturated with a substance or from the
product directly.
▫ With Bagging, substances are sprayed or deposited into a
plastic or paper bag and the vapors are inhaled. This
method can result in suffocation because a bag is placed
over the individual’s head, cutting off the supply of oxygen.

6. Types of Inhalants
• There are more than 1,4000 products which are
potentially dangerous when inhaled.
• The most common products are household products
or products that can be found in a garage, school or
convenience store.
▫ Adhesives/Glue
▫ Aerosols (spray paint, hairspray, air fresheners)
▫ Bath Salts
▫ Cleaning Agents (dry erase board cleaner, household
cleaners)
▫ Food Products (whipped cream, cooking spray)
▫ Gases/ Chemicals (propane, helium)
▫ Solvents(nail polish remover, paint thinner, lighter
fluid, lighters, whiteout)

7. Effects of Inhalants
• Within minutes, the user
experiences feelings of
intoxication and may become
dizzy, have headaches,
abdominal pain, limb spasms,
lack of coordination, loss of
control, hallucinations, and
impaired judgment.
• Worse, he or she may even
die from a condition known
as Sudden Sniffing Death
Syndrome, which can even
occur with first time users.
• Although it is not very
common, addiction to
inhalants can occur with
repeated abuse

8. Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome
• It can happen during the first
time someone tries an
inhalant
• It is particularly associated
with the abuse of air
conditioning coolant, butane,
propane, electronics and the
chemicals in some aerosol
products.
• It is usually associated with
cardiac arrest, as the inhalant
causes the heart to beat
rapidly and erratically
resulting in the heart stopping

9. Long-Term Effects
• Muscle weakness, inattentiveness, lack of
coordination, irritability, depression, liver or
kidney damage and central nervous system
(including brain) damage.

10. Signs of Abuse
• HELP acronym
▫ Hidden chemical-soaked rags or clothes
▫ Eyes and nose red or runny
▫ Loss of appetite or nausea
▫ Paint or chemical stains on face or fingers

11. Prevention
• “Education is the key to prevention,” says Dr. Caudle. “Parents
should be making sure their children’s schools are taking the
necessary measures to teach children about the toxic consequences
of inhalant use and continue that education at home” (Parents Can
Prevent Inhalant Use in Children).

12. Discussion Questions
• Why do you think people start using inhalants?
• Why do you think inhalants are the most
commonly used drug by younger teens in
comparison to other drugs?

13. • Its important to be educated about inhalants and
their effects on the body. I think its extremely
popular amongst teens because it is so readily
available. The substances being inhaled are not
illegally obtained; instead they are household
items that someone could buy at CVS. Education
about the long term effects could possibly
prevent the usage of such products.

14. References
• Alliance for Consumer Education. "Dangers & Effects -
Inhalant Abuse Prevention."Inhalant Abuse Prevention.
N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2014.
<http://www.inhalant.org/inhalant- abuse/dangers-effects/>.
• National Institute of Drug Abuse (2012). Inhalants Retrieved
from
http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/inhal
ants on September 21, 2014
• Parents Can Prevent Inhalant Use in Children.
(n.d.). American Osteopathic Association. Retrieved
September 25, 2014, from
http://www.osteopathic.org/osteopathic-health/about-your-
health/health-conditions-library/general-health/
Pages/inhalant-use.aspx