Inhalants

Inhalants are toxic substances found in common household products such as spray paint, glue, nail polish remover, and cleaning fluids. These substances produce breathable chemical vapors, which are inhaled to produce mind-altering effects. Inhalants are often used as a substitute for alcohol with effects that mimic acute alcohol intoxication. Most inhalant abusers are younger than 25 and are often unaware of the dangers associated with inhalant use, which include organ damage and possible death. Education, early identification, and intervention are necessary to stop inhalant abuse before it causes serious consequences.

Inhalants are easily available, inexpensive, and difficult to detect, resulting in widespread potential for abuse among children and teenagers in both urban and rural areas. Inhalant abuse is most common in the south and southwestern United States and among Native American children. Poverty, a history of sexual or physical abuse, and poor grades have all been associated with an increased risk of inhalant abuse. Government surveys have shown that inhalant abuse typically peaks between the seventh and ninth grades and results from the 2006 Monitoring the Future study indicate that 29.2 percent of eighth graders report lifetime use of inhalants.

Inhalants include large variety of substances such as solvents (e.g., gasoline, paint thinner, glue, felt-tip marker, correction fluid), aerosols (e.g., spray paint and hair spray), and gases (e.g., butane lighters, ether, halothane, nitrous oxide) that have varying pharmacological effects. Inhalants can be abused in many different ways including inhaling nitrous oxide from balloons, spraying aerosols directly into the mouth, “sniffing” which describes direct inhalation of fumes from containers, “bagging” which involves inhalation of solvents from a plastic or paper bag, and “huffing” which describes inhaling vapors from a cloth soaked in solvent that is held close to, or stuffed inside of, the mouth. Most inhalants produce rapid euphoria and central nervous system depression. This resembles acute alcohol intoxication, with drunken appearance, slurred speech, disorientation, nausea, and vomiting. Inhalant abusers are also likely to have chemical odors or paint stains on their face, hands, or clothing.

Research from animals and humans show that inhalants are extremely toxic and hazardous to health. High concentrations of certain inhalants, such as butane, can induce rapid and irregular heart rhythms that may progress to heart failure and death within minutes, a syndrome described as “sudden sniffing death.” Inhalants can also lead to death through suffocation and asphyxiation. Chronic use of inhalants can cause organ damage to many structures including the brain, heart, liver, lungs, and kidneys.

Although inhalants are not regulated under the Controlled Substances Act, they have a high potential for abuse and many state legislatures have passed laws restricting the sale of products such as spray paint and glue to minors. Adults should be aware of the temptations that inhalants pose to children and store household products carefully to avoid accidental ingestion or intentional abuse.