Inhalants

Many products readily found in the home or workplace—such as spray Definition paints, markers, glues, and cleaning Although other abused drugs can be fluids—contain volatile substances inhaled, the term inhalants is reserved that have psychoactive (mind- for the wide variety of substances— altering) properties when inhaled. including solvents, aerosols, gases, and People do not typically think of these nitrites—that are rarely, if ever, taken products as drugs because they were via any other route of administration. never intended for that purpose. (See below for a list of examples.) However, these products are some- times abused in that way. They are especially (but not exclusively) may sniff or snort fumes from a con- abused by young children and adoles- tainer or dispenser (such as a glue cents, and are the only class of sub- bottle or a marking pen), spray aero- stance abused more by younger than sols (such as computer cleaning dust- by older teens. ers) directly into their nose or mouth,

or place a chemical-soaked rag in their High-School Students Reporng mouth. Abusers may also inhale fumes Having Ever Used Inhalants from a balloon or a plastic or paper bag. Although the high produced by 8th inhalants usually lasts just a few minutes, abusers often try to prolong 10th

Grade it by continuing to inhale repeatedly over several hours. 12th

0.00% 5.00% 10.00% 15.00% People tend to abuse different inhal- ant products at different ages. New Source: University of Michigan, 2011 Monitoring the users ages 12–15 most commonly Future Study. Survey data can be found at www.drugabuse.gov abuse glue, shoe polish, spray paints, gasoline, and lighter fluid. New users How Are Inhalants Abused? ages 16–17 most commonly abuse ni- trous oxide or “whippets.” Adults Abusers of inhalants breathe them in most commonly abuse a class of in- through the nose or mouth in a varie- halants known as nitrites (such as ty of ways (known as “huffing”). They amyl nitrites or “poppers”). Inhalants • September 2012 • Page 1 How Do Inhalants Affect the Brain? Products Abused as Inhalants Most abused inhalants other than ni- trites depress the central nervous sys- Volatile solvents—liquids that vaporize at room tem in a manner not unlike alcohol. temperature: Industrial or household products, including The effects are similar—including paint thinners or removers, degreasers, dry- slurred speech, lack of coordination, cleaning fluids, gasoline, and lighter fluid euphoria, and dizziness. Inhalant Art or office supply solvents, including correc- tion fluids, felt-tip marker fluid, electronic con- abusers may also experience light- tact cleaners, and glue headedness, hallucinations, and delu- sions. With repeated inhalations, Aerosols—sprays that contain propellants and many users feel less inhibited and less solvents: Household aerosol propellants in items such as in control. Some may feel drowsy for spray paints, hair or deodorant sprays, fabric several hours and experience a linger- protector sprays, aerosol computer cleaning ing headache. products, and vegetable oil sprays

Gases—found in household or commercial prod- Unlike other types of inhalants, ucts and used as medical anesthetics: nitrites enhance sexual pleasure by Household or commercial products, including dilating and relaxing blood vessels. butane lighters and propane tanks, whipped cream aerosols or dispensers (“whippets”), and refrigerant gases Although it is not very common, ad- Medical anesthetics, such as ether, chloro- diction to inhalants can occur with re- form, halothane, and nitrous oxide (“laughing peated abuse. gas”)

Nitrites—used primarily as sexual enhancers: What Are the Other Health Effects Organic nitrites are volatiles that include cy- of Inhalants? clohexyl, butyl, and amyl nitrites, commonly known as “poppers.” Amyl nitrite is still used in certain diagnostic medical procedures. When Chemicals found in different types of marketed for illicit use, organic nitrites are of- inhaled products may produce a vari- ten sold in small brown bottles labeled as “vid- ety of other short-term effects, such as eo head cleaner,” “room odorizer,” “leather nausea or vomiting, as well as more cleaner,” or “liquid aroma.” serious long-term consequences. The- se may include liver and kidney dam- person. High concentrations of inhal- age, hearing loss, or bone marrow ants may also cause death from suffo- damage. Effects may also include loss cation, especially when inhaled from a of coordination and limb spasms due paper or plastic bag or in a closed ar- to damage to myelin—a protective ea. Even when using aerosols or vola- sheathing around nerve fibers that tile products for their legitimate pur- helps nerves transmit messages in the poses like painting or cleaning, it is brain and peripheral nervous system. wise to do so in a well-ventilated Inhalants can also cause brain damage room or outdoors. by cutting off oxygen flow to the brain. Nitrites are a special class of inhalants Inhalants can even be lethal. Sniffing that are abused to enhance sexual highly concentrated amounts of the pleasure and performance. They can chemicals in solvents or aerosol be associated with unsafe sexual prac- sprays can directly cause heart failure tices that increase the risk of contract- within minutes. This syndrome, ing and spreading infectious diseases known as “sudden sniffing death,” can like HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. result from a single session of inhalant use by an otherwise healthy young Inhalants • September 2012 • Page 2 Learn More

For additional information on inhal- ants and inhalant abuse, please see http://www.drugabuse.gov/publicati ons/research-reports/inhalant-abuse

Inhalants • September 2012 • Page 3