Basic Facts - Inhalants
What are Inhalants?
Inhalants are drugs that produce a quick, temporary high;
lightheadedness; and a general good feeling when their fumes or gases are
breathed. It tends to last only a short time, from a few minutes to about
three-quarters of an hour and may be followed by after-effects, such as
drowsiness, headache, or nausea, which last for an hour or two.
Inhalants are readily available and relatively cheap. Many
of them can be obtained legally, even by minors. More than a thousand common
household products can be used to get high. The average age at which
adolescents first try these drugs is 13.
What are the Main Types?
Organic solvents are liquid compounds of carbon that have
the power to break down, or dissolve, other carbon compounds. Examples of
products containing high levels of organic solvents are: gasoline, lighter
fluid and butane lighter fuel, spray paint, paint thinners and removers,
transparent glue, rubber-cement thinner, hair spray, nail polish remover,
degreasers, and cleaning fluids.
Nitrites are compounds of nitrogen and act mainly as
vasodilators, causing the walls of blood vessels to relax so that the vessels
enlarge, or dilate. They are used medically to relieve attacks of angina chest
pain. The most commonly abused are amyl nitrite and butyl nitrite. Amyl nitrite
is usually packaged in small, crushable glass or plastic capsules, known as
poppers or snappers. Butyl nitrite often comes in a bottle or spray can and is
sold as an air freshener under names such as Rush and Locker Room.
Nitrous oxide, commonly called laughing gas, was the first
inhalant used for recreational purposes. Introduced as an anesthetic, dentists
still use this compound of nitrogen and oxygen. It doesn?t completely block
pain, but it does alter the perception of pain, so that there is no distress.
Nitrous oxide tends to produce a pleasant, dreamy state of consciousness,
somewhere between waking and sleep. Stored in metal tanks, the compressed gas
is also used to make whipped cream. When packaged in small cartridges, called
whippets, and enclosed in a container of cream, the gas mixes with the cream
when the nozzle is depressed.
How are they taken?
The fumes from organic solvents may be inhaled from their
containers. A liquid solvent may also be poured or sprayed on an absorbent
material, such as a sock or rag, or a roll of toilet paper. To make the fumes
stronger, abusers put the solvent in a paper or plastic bag or a rubber
balloon, and then hold the open end over the mouth and nose.
The capsules containing amyl nitrite are crushed and held
beneath the nose. Butyl nitrite may be inhaled in its container, or, like
organic solvents, applied to cloth or paper.
Nitrous oxide may be inhaled through a mask from a tank of
the compressed gas or directly from a punctured whippet. The nozzle of a
whipped-cream container can also be depressed in such a way that only the
nitrous oxide is discharged.
Short-term effects
During the high itself and the period afterward, physical
coordination and mental judgment are impaired. Abusers often suffer falls and
other accidents and cannot drive safely. They may engage in irresponsible or
dangerous behavior. Inhalants irritate the breathing passages, sometimes
provoking severe coughing, painful inflammation, and nosebleeds.
Nitrite inhalants often cause intense facial flushing,
feelings of severe weakness and dizziness, and heart palpitations. Inhalants,
particularly in heavy doses, may not produce a pleasant high but mental
confusion, hallucinations, and delusions of persecution (paranoia) instead.
Inhalants may dangerously hinder the activity of the nerves
that control breathing. The resulting respiratory depression may cause
unconsciousness, coma, or even death. The danger is especially great if
inhalants are taken along with other nervous-system depressants, such as
alcohol or barbiturates (sleeping pills).
Even first-time users run the risk of sudden sniffing death
(SSD). Abusers may suffer fatal irregularity of heartbeat (arrhythmia) or
complete heart arrest. The risk of SSD seems to be higher if the abuser engages
in strenuous physical activity or is suddenly startled.
Long-term effects
Repeated use tends to produce increased tolerance to the
drugs and larger doses are needed to achieve the same results. Heavy doses
increase the risk of permanent brain damage, with effects such as poor memory,
extreme mood swings, tremors, and seizures. Heavy, continuous use also increases
the risk of heart arrhythmia and respiratory failure.
Nitrite inhalants tend to raise the pressure of the fluid
within the eyes. The raised pressure may eventually lead to glaucoma and
blindness. Regular nitrite abuse may also cause severe, pounding headaches.
Organic solvents are the most dangerous of all inhalants.
They are poisons that break down organic compounds including those that make up
living cells. Once absorbed into the body, they tend to concentrate in the
liver and kidneys. Repeated, heavy abuse may cause fatal damage to these
organs, as well as to the heart and nervous system.
What are the Signs of Abuse?
Certain signs suggest that a person may be abusing
inhalants:
- A sweetish, chemical smell on the clothes or body
- Inflammation of the nostrils, frequent nosebleeds, or a
rash around the nose and mouth
- Poor appetite and loss of weight
- Pale, bluish skin
- Watery, bloodshot eyes with dilated pupils
- Slow, slurred speech
- Clumsy, staggering gait, and drunken appearance
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