Inhalants are most commonly used by adolescents, especially younger adolescents. According to the NIDA-funded Monitoring the Future survey, around 4% of 8th graders (around 14 years old) had used inhalants in the last year. The rate of inhalant use has been generally declining in the United States in the past two decades.3 In 2023 less than 1% of people ages 12 and older reported using inhalants at least once in the past year.4 See the National Survey on Drug Use and Heath for recent data. Close to 2.5 million people in the United States abused an inhalant in 2020. They also feel side effects similar to those of alcohol, such as slurred speech, coordination loss and dizziness. This chemical found in refrigerants and aerosol sprays can cause heart problems, breathing problems and liver damage.
The sequelae of inhalant misuse extend beyond changes in reward value processing and cue reactivity. Early studies on recreational inhalant users mention impairments in memory, attention and judgements compared with control and even polydrug users 27,128. Impaired processing speeds can even be detected after a single drug experience 129. Other studies have demonstrated reductions in IQ, working memory, behavioral flexibility, attention, and response inhibition in inhalant users 130–132.
- At greatest risk of harm from these drugs are adolescents in their early teenage years due to the unregulated sale of products containing inhalant chemicals and their ease of use.
- When used recreationally, nitrous oxide, also known as “hippie crack” on the streets, is found in cartridges used in whipped cream dispensers.
- Some products, especially solvents and aerosol sprays, have high concentrations of harmful chemicals.
- The damage is not confined to one area but spreads throughout the brain, impacting various functions and abilities.
- They may even seem “safer” since they are products you can buy at the store and not “hard” drugs.
- Seeking professional help is crucial when dealing with inhalant addiction to ensure a safe and successful recovery.
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The wide divergence in prevalence estimates may reflect the presence of elevated-risk groups in some samples. For example, Howard and Perron (2009) found a 47 percent prevalence of inhalant use disorders among 279 juvenile justice-involved inhalant users in Missouri. In the Wu, Pilowsky, and Schlenger NHSDA-based study (2004), adolescents who had initiated inhalant use before age 15 were five to six times as likely as those who had started later to be diagnosed with inhalant dependence in the year prior to the survey. Let’s dive into the murky world of inhalants and uncover the psychological perils they pose. Inhalants are a diverse group of substances that produce vapors, which people inhale to achieve a quick high. These aren’t your typical street drugs; we’re talking about products you probably have in your garage or under your kitchen sink right now.
Wellness & Activity Programs
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), another danger of abusing inhalants is the risk of a life-threatening condition called “sudden sniffing death.” This can occur if someone uses a bag to inhale chemicals or volatile solvents in a poorly ventilated environment. While the widespread availability of inhalants may make them seem less harmful, these substances are toxic and can damage a person’s health over time. Inhalants can inhalant abuse: short- and long-term effects of inhalants also become physically and psychologically addictive if they’re abused frequently.
- More research is needed to better define the mechanisms of action of all inhalants.
- Inhaled substances are rapidly absorbed by the brain and bloodstream, resulting in a quick and intense high.
- If a patient has had extended loss of consciousness and/or felt fatigue with the need to lie down for prolonged periods, rhabdomyolysis may be present and should be ruled out by means of a serum creatine phosphokinase or urine myoglobinuria test.
- Family therapy and support options are also optimal when children or teens are struggling with inhalant misuse.
- Nitrous oxide is also found in products that boost octane levels in racing cars.
Edmund has an extensive background in SUD research and medical writing, working collaboratively with doctors, substance use disorder specialists, and clinical experts across all content on Recovered. Nitrites are often not considered under the umbrella of inhalant abuse due to differences in epidemiology, neurochemistry, direct effects and reasons for use (primarily used as sexual enhancers). If you or a loved one is experimenting with drugs, talk to our team today to learn about addiction detox options in Southern California. Inhalant use overall has been declining, with fewer than 1% of people 12 and older claiming to have used them compared to 9% in 2011. However, inhalant use is significantly higher among children and adolescents between the ages of 10 and 16.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Short-term effects of inhalants include the risk for overdose (sudden sniffing death), along with altered mental status and intoxication. Long-term health effects of inhalant abuse include damage to internal organs and the nervous system as well as cognitive and mental health effects. Long-term inhalant abuse can have severe consequences on an individual’s physical, mental, and social well-being.
Comprehensive Continuum of Care
A pregnancy test should be performed on all females of childbearing age to assess the chance of embryopathy. In patients using methylene chloride, high carboxyhemoglobin is expected. In suspected chronic nitrous oxide use, testing should reveal hyperhomocysteinemia and decreased vitamin B12 levels. In fact, measurements of homocysteine and vitamin B12 levels can be considered as biologic markers for nitrous oxide abuse. For patients with suspected myelopathy secondary to chronic nitrous oxide use, early diagnosis is important, as irreversible neurological damage can result without treatment.
What are the effects of inhalant abuse on mental and physical health?
Behavioral therapies can work to get to the root of substance abuse, addressing issues that prompted the abuse. Therapy aims to foster healthy habits and uses mindfulness to be more self-aware and improve self-esteem and overall well-being. Inhalants are commonly products that are found around the house, so they are easy for children to access and abuse. They may even seem “safer” since they are products you can buy at the store and not “hard” drugs. Inhalants take effect almost immediately after inhaling them and cause intoxication that is often similar to alcohol intoxication. Since the high is short-lived, it can encourage a person to keep abusing inhalants repeatedly over a period of hours to sustain the euphoria.
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Users often experience a sudden euphoria, a feeling of lightheadedness that can be addictively pleasurable. It’s like a quick escape from reality, a momentary high that seems harmless enough. Depending on the particular product, chemicals found in inhalants may produce effects similar to alcohol, sedatives, or the early stages of anesthesia.2 There may be a short-lasting high along with feelings of warmth and excitement. Other effects may include light-headedness, seeing things in a distorted way, or disorganized thinking. Group and individual therapy and counseling can be beneficial treatment methods for inhalant abuse.
How Is Inhalant Addiction Diagnosed?
Inhalants can also damage brain cells by preventing them from getting enough oxygen. Also known as brain hypoxia, the effects depend on the area of the brain that gets damaged. The hippocampus, for example, is responsible for memory, so someone who repeatedly uses inhalants may be unable to learn new things or may have a hard time carrying on simple conversations.
Seeking professional help is crucial when dealing with inhalant addiction to ensure a safe and successful recovery. With over 15 years of personal recovery from addiction, I deeply understand the challenges and emotions that come with seeking treatment for a loved one. As a Patient Liaison, my role is to bridge the gap between families and their loved ones in treatment. I provide compassionate support, consistent updates, and open communication throughout the journey. Repeated use can cause a range of short- and long-term consequences, many of which may be permanent. Toluene modulates the function of a diverse array of neuronal ion channels with effects ranging from inhibition to excitation to no effect (Figure 1) 3,37.
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