NCJ Number
197105
Date Published
February 2003
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This document presents information about inhalants.
Abstract
Inhalants include more than a thousand household and commercial products that can be abused by inhaling them through the mouth or nose for an intoxicating effect. Composed of volatile solvents and substances commonly found in cleaning and paint products, inhalants are easily accessible, inexpensive, and easily concealed. Inhalants can be ingested in various ways, such as inhaling directly from containers, sniffing fumes from plastic bags, or sniffing a cloth saturated with the substance. They can be inhaled directly from an aerosol can or an alternative container. Some substances release intoxicating vapors when heated. First use of inhalants typically occurs between late childhood and early adolescence. The effects of inhalant use resemble alcohol inebriation. Upon inhalation, the body becomes starved of oxygen, forcing the heart to beat more rapidly in an attempt to increase blood flow to the brain. The user initially experiences stimulation, loss of inhibition, and distorted perception of reality and spatial relations. The senses become depressed and a sense of lethargy occurs as the body attempts to stabilize blood flow to the brain. This is referred to as a “head rush.” Because of the chemical’s short-acting, rapid-onset effect, users can become intoxicated several times over a few hours. Heavy use of inhalants can cause tolerance and physical withdrawal symptoms within several hours to a few days after use. There is a link between inhalant abuse and problems in school, such as memory loss and apathy. Inhalants were reported as the primary substance of abuse in 0.1 percent admissions to treatment facilities. Most of the common household and commercial products abused as inhalants are not regulated under the Controlled Substances Act. Many State legislatures have attempted to deter youth from abusing them by placing restrictions on their sale to minors.