Inhalants

Inhalants are breathable chemicals that produce mind-altering vapors. They include a variety of solvents and aerosols, glues, paint thinner and gasoline.

They are most often used by young people, ages 7-17. Use is either by direct inhalation or pouring the substance into a rag, balloon or bag and breathing in the vapors. The effects are evident within 30 seconds and usually last up to ten minutes, though they can sometimes last longer.

Symptoms can include:

• dizziness
• slurred speech
• unsteady body movements
• drowsiness
• impaired thinking
• distortion of visual and time perception
• mental confusion
• impulsive or aggressive behavior
• headaches

With heavy use, delusions and hallucination can occur.

Users may develop nausea and vomiting, as well as generate the odor of the substance they are inhaling. Chronic users can have a persistent cough and a rash around the nose may develop.

Fatalities are usually the result of suffocation (such as the user passes out with a bag over their head), cardiac arrest or hazardous behavior due to impaired judgment or irrational actions.

There is no known physical dependence.

Inhalants are attractive to some people because they are:

• easy to obtain
• cheap
• legal
• compact
• work quickly
• don’t last tool long

Several gases are also used to intoxication:

• Amyl Nitrate and Butyl Nitrite- useful for people with coronary angina, they dilate arteries in the heart and increase the heart rate. Flushing of the face, dizziness and headache often result. Amyl Nitrite is also known as “poppers” because it’s often kept in a capsule which is popped open.
• Nitrous Oxide- a colorless, sweet, non-flammable gas. Usually used directly from a container or first into a balloon. The effects of impaired perceptions and body movements usually wear off in minutes.