Parents Beware...Inhalants Are Deadly!
Current statistics indicate that one in five children in America will use an inhalant to get high by the time they reach eighth grade. Inhalants are cheap, legal and accessible and few users are aware of the potentially fatal effects that can occur with just one use. Education and awareness are key to preventing inhalant use among youth.
Inhalants are not drugs - they are poisons and toxins that cause severe damage to the brain and body. There are over 1,000, many of which are easy to acquire and many which probably exist in the average household. Following are a few of the more commonly abused products:
- Adhesives: Model airplane glue, rubber cement, household glue.
- Aerosols: Spray paint, hair spray, air freshener, deodorant, fabric protector.
- Anesthetics: Nitrous oxide, ether, chloroform.
- Cleaning agents: Dry cleaning fluid, spot remover, degreaser.
- Food products: Vegetable cooking spray, "whippets" (nitrous oxide).
- Gases: Nitrous Oxide, butane, propane, helium.
- Solvents and gases: Nail polish remover, paint thinner, typing correction fluid and thinner, toxic markers, pure toluene, toluol, cigar lighter fluid, gasoline.
Inhalant use refers to the intentional breathing of gas or vapors for the purpose of achieving a high. Users may inhale directly from container or aerosol cans, sniff fumes from plastic bags held over the mouth and nose, or sniff a cloth saturated with the substance. They may also inhale out of an alternative container such as a balloon.
The effects of inhalant use resemble inebriation. Upon inhalation, the body is starved of oxygen, causing the heart to beat rapidly in an attempt to increase blood flow to the brain. Users experience stimulation, a loss of inhibitions, and a distorted perception of reality and spatial relations. After a few minutes, the senses become depressed and a sense of lethargy follows as the body attempts to stabilize blood flow to the brain. This is usually referred to as a "head rush". Users can become intoxicated several times over a few hours because of the short-acting, rapid onset effect of the chemicals. Other signs of use include headaches, nausea, vomiting, slurred speech, loss of coordination and wheezing.
Heavy or sustained use of inhalants can cause tolerance and physical withdrawal symptoms within several hours to a few days after use. Withdrawal symptoms may include sweating, vomiting, physical agitation, anxiety, hallucinations, and grand mal seizures. Unfortunately, specialized treatment for inhalant users is rare and difficult to find, and users suffer high rates of relapse.
The consequences of inhalant use range from serious to severe. Users tend to have problems in school such as failing grades, chronic absences, memory loss and other learning problems. Damage to the body can result in deafness, leukemia, inhibited oxygen level in the blood, personality changes, slurred speech, impaired kidneys or liver, reduced muscle tone, and severe rash around the nose and mouth, referred to as "glue sniffer’s rash". In addition, a heart problem can occur, known as SSD or sudden sniffing death syndrome. This is when a user deeply inhales a chemical for the effect of intoxication. This causes a decrease in available oxygen in the body. If the user becomes started or engages in sudden physical activity, the increased flow of adrenaline from the brain to the heart induces cardiac arrest and death will occur within minutes.
An important task for parents is to be watchful and aware of the signs of use. Indicators of inhalant use include paint on the body or clothing, spots or sores around the mouth, red or runny eyes and nose, breath odor, loss of appetite, a drunken or dazed appearance, excitability, and irritability. There are also many street names for inhalants such as boppers, buzz, bomb, moon gas, poppers, snappers, and whippets to name a few. Be watchful for signs or mention of inhalant use and be proactive with your children by educating them on the dangers of inhalants. Prevention is the best weapon we have in fighting this deadly trend among America’s youth.