Prevention Pathways--Inhalants

HERE ARE THE STRAIGHT FACTS...
About Inhalants

Inhalants refer to substances that are sniffed or huffed to give the user an immediate head rush or high. They include a diverse group of chemicals that are found in consumer products such as aerosols and cleaning solvents. Inhalant use can cause a number of physical and emotional problems, and even one-time use can result in death.

Using inhalants even one time can put you at risk for:

sudden death
suffocation
visual hallucinations and severe mood swings
numbness and tingling of the hands and feet

Prolonged use can result in:

headache, muscle weakness, abdominal pain
decrease or loss of sense of smell
nausea and nosebleeds
hepatitis
violent behaviors
irregular heartbeat
liver, lung, and kidney impairment
irreversible brain damage
nervous system damage
dangerous chemical imbalances in the body
involuntary passing of urine and feces

Short-term effects of inhalants include:

heart palpitations
breathing difficulty
dizziness
headaches

Remember, using inhalants, even one time, can kill you. According to medical experts, death can occur in at least five ways:

asphyxia--solvent gases can significantly limit available oxygen in the air, causing breathing to stop;
suffocation--typically seen with inhalant users who use bags;
choking on vomit;
careless behaviors in potentially dangerous settings; and
sudden sniffing death syndrome, presumably from cardiac arrest.

(Information from the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information.)

Tips for Teens on Inhalants

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Prevention Pathways, 201 Miller Avenue, Norfolk, Nebraska 68701-6437
Phone: 402-370-3113 Fax: 402-370-3444
Website: http://www.preventionpathways.org/