· Serious health problems: People who use solvents · Weakened immune system: Recent animal research Some long-term effects may be reversible, but others One in a series… regularly for a long time can damage their liver, shows that nitrites may impair the immune system are permanent. When inhaled, solvents are carried by Alcohol Hallucinogens Do You Know... kidneys, lungs, heart, brain, bones and blood. that protects against infectious diseases. the blood and stored in fat tissue in the body. Internal Alcohol, Other Drugs Heroin Sometimes this damage heals when drug use is organs that have high blood circulation and that are and Driving Inhalants stopped; sometimes it is permanent. Are inhalants addictive? rich in fat tissue, such as the brain, liver and kidney, Amphetamines They can be. are particularly affected. If inhalant use is stopped, Ketamine Anabolic Steroids · Fetal solvent syndrome: Use of solvents during damage to the liver and kidneys may heal, but damage LSD pregnancy, especially chronic use, can result in Most inhalant use is experimental and occasional. Benzodiazepines Street names: glue, gas, sniff (solvents); whippets (nitrous to the brain is almost always permanent. Studies using Methadone However, people who use inhalants regularly can Caffeine oxide); poppers, room odourizers, VCR cleaner — some sold premature birth, birth defects or stillbirth. scans of people’s brains after chronic long-term solvent under “brand” names such as Rush, Bolt, Kix (nitrites) develop “tolerance.” This means that more and more Methamphetamine use show that solvent use can cause the brain to Cannabis Nitrous oxide of the substance is needed to produce the same Inhalants atrophy, or shrink, which can severely affect thinking, Cocaine Opioids What are inhalants? effects. Regular use also leads to a persistent craving memory and movement control. Ecstasy Rohypnol The term “inhalants” refers to chemical · Lack of oxygen: Sniffing pure nitrous oxide starves for the high, which makes it hard to stop using. When GHB Tobacco vapours or gases that produce a “high” when the body of oxygen. Some people have died this way. regular use is stopped, withdrawal symptoms may Inhalant use can also result in permanent hearing loss they are breathed in. Most of the substances include nausea, loss of appetite, tremors, anxiety, · Loss of motor control: People who use nitrous oxide and damage to bone marrow. used as inhalants, such as glue, gasoline, depression and paranoia. while standing can fall and hurt themselves. cleaning solvents and aerosols, have legitimate everyday uses, but they were never What are the long-term effects of using For more information on addiction and mental health issues, · Frostbite: The gas is extremely cold as it is released inhalants? or a copy of this brochure, please contact CAMH’s R. Samuel meant for human consumption. Inhalants are from the cylinder and can freeze skin. In addition, McLaughlin Addiction and Mental Health Information Centre: cheap, legal and easy to get. They have a high The long-term effects of inhalants vary depending on ONTARIO TOLL-FREE:1 800 463-6273 pressure in the tank can damage the lungs. potential for abuse — especially by children which inhalant is used. Some of the possible effects TORONTO: 416 595-6111 and young adults. are bloodshot eyes, sores on the nose and mouth, · Nerve damage: High levels of nitrous oxide use, even To order multiple copies of this brochure, or other CAMH nosebleeds, pale skin, excessive thirst and weight loss. resource materials, please contact: with adequate oxygen, has been shown to damage Marketing and Sales Services There are hundreds of different kinds of People who use inhalants over a long term may also TEL.: 1 800 661-1111 or 416 595-6059 in Toronto nerves. This can cause numbness, weakness and loss inhalants, roughly dividing into four different be confused, tired, depressed, irritable, hostile and E-MAIL: [email protected] of balance. types: paranoid and have trouble concentrating, remembering To make a donation, please contact: Nitrites and thinking clearly. Heavy solvent use can result Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Foundation TEL.: 416 979-6909 · Volatile solvents: These are the most in numbness, weakness, tremors and a lack of co- E-MAIL: [email protected] commonly abused type of inhalants. · Unsafe sexual practices: An increased risk of ordination in the arms and legs. If you have questions, compliments or concerns “Volatile” means they evaporate when contracting HIV and hepatitis is associated with about services at CAMH, please call our exposed to air, and “solvent” means they nitrite use. Client Relations Co-ordinator at: TEL.: 416 535-8501 ext. 2028 dissolve many other substances. Examples Visit our Web site at: www.camh.net of solvents used as inhalants include benzene, toluene, xylene, acetone, naptha Copyright © 2003 Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and hexane. Products such as gasoline, A Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization Collaborating Centre Affiliated with the University of Toronto Disponible en français 2502 / 02-04 P259 cleaning fluids, paint thinners, hobby glue, correction What do inhalants look like, and how are An ongoing survey of drug use among Ontario students Inhaled solvents usually produce an alcohol-like effect, Are inhalants dangerous? fluid and felt-tip markers contain a mixture of different they used? in grades 7 to OAC reported that student use of but with more distortion of perception, such as the Yes. Inhalant use is dangerous in many ways: types of solvents. Solvent and aerosol products — on the store shelf, in solvents one or more times in the past year increased shape, size and colour of objects, and distortion of the kitchen cupboard or in the workshop — would not from 2.6 per cent in 1997 to 7.3 per cent in 1999 time and space. New users may be initially excited, Solvents and aerosols · Aerosol or spray cans: Hair spray, spray paint, cooking be noticed by most people as dangerous drugs. and decreased to 5.9 per cent in 2001. then become drowsy and fall asleep. People who use spray and other aerosol products contain pressurized solvents more often may feel euphoric, exhilarated and · Suffocation: Solvents are often sniffed from a plastic bag, which is held firmly around the nose and mouth. liquids or gases such as fluorocarbon and butane. When solvents are used as drugs, they are either inhaled Nitrous oxide is a drug of abuse available to many have vivid fantasies. Some feel giddy, outgoing and People who use solvents sometimes pass out with the Some aerosol products also contain solvents. directly from the container (“sniffed”), from a soaked rag health care workers. Nitrous oxide appears to be confident. Physical effects may include dizziness, bag still in place, and suffocate due to lack of held to the face (“huffed”) or from a bag (“bagged”). gaining popularity among young adults. nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, sneezing and oxygen. Choking on vomit when unconscious is · Gases: This includes some medical anesthetics, Sometimes people spray aerosols into a bag or balloon coughing, staggering, slow reflexes and sensitivity to another major cause of inhalant-related death. such as nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”), chloroform, and then inhale the gas. Nitrite use is most common among gay men, although light. halothane and ether, as well as gases found in U.S. statistics indicate that the rate of nitrite use has · Recklessness: Sniffing reduces inhibition and affects commercially available products, such as butane Nitrous oxide or other anesthetic gases intended for fallen. Nitrous oxide produces a dreamy mental state, loss of the way people feel about themselves and the world lighters and propane tanks. medical use are contained in a gas tank; nitrous oxide motor control, hallucinations and an increased around them. It makes some people feel powerful, is also found in whipped cream dispensers. Because How do inhalants make you feel? threshold for pain. which has led to dangerous and destructive behaviour · Nitrites: Amyl nitrite, butyl nitrite and cyclohexyl nitrite nitrous oxide is pressurized and can be very cold, it How inhalants, or any drugs, affect you depends on that caused serious harm. Others don’t get “high” (also known as “poppers”) are different from other is often inhaled from a balloon. a number of factors: Nitrites dilate blood vessels and relax muscles. The when they sniff; they get depressed. Self-destructive inhalants in effect and availability. They are sold as · your age heartbeat quickens and blood rushes to the head, or suicidal behaviour are common among people who “room odourizer” or “video head cleaner.” Amyl nitrite Nitrites are clear yellow liquids that are inhaled directly · how sensitive you are to the drug creating a “rush.” Nitrites also cause headaches, use solvents. is used medically to treat cyanide poisoning; butyl from the bottle or from a cloth. · how much you use dizziness, nausea and flushing. Some men use nitrites · how long and how often you’ve been using it nitrite is an illegal substance in the United States. during sex for the drugs’ capacity to relax muscles Most inhalants are highly flammable; recklessness · the method you use to take the drug Who uses inhalants? and promote blood flow. with lit cigarettes and flames while using inhalants · the environment you’re in Where do inhalants come from? Most of the people who use solvents and aerosols are has caused tragic accidents. Many inhalants are widely available as commercial young — between 10 and 16 years old. Many try · whether or not you have certain pre-existing medical How long does the feeling last? products. It is hard to prevent their use because these inhalants only once or twice, or use them only on or psychiatric conditions Several breaths of solvents will produce a high within · Sudden sniffing death (SSD): Prolonged sniffing of products are found in many homes and workplaces.