What
is inhalant use?
Who is at risk?
What can inhalants do to the
body?
What can I do if someone I
know is huffing and appears in a state of
crisis?
Can inhalant use be treated?
What should I tell my child
or students about inhalants?
How can I educate my community
about inhalants?
Inhalant use refers to the intentional breathing
of gas or vapors with the purpose of reaching
a high.
Inhalants are legal, everyday products which
have a useful purpose, but can be misused.
You're probably familiar with many of these substances
-- paint, glue and others. But you probably don't
know that there are more than 1,000 products that
are very dangerous when inhaled -- things like
typewriter correction fluid, air-conditioning
refrigerant, felt tip markers, spray paint, air
freshener, butane and even cooking spray.
See Products Abused as Inhalants
for more details.
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Inhalants are an equal opportunity method of
substance abuse. Statistics show that young, white
males have the highest usage rates. Hispanic and
American Indian populations also show high rates
of usage. See Characteristics of Users and Signs
of an Inhalant User for more details.
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Nearly all abused products produce effects similar
to anesthetics, which slow down the body's function.
Varying upon level of dosage, the user can experience
slight stimulation, feeling of less inhibition
or loss of consciousness. The user can also suffer
from Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome.
This means the user can die the 1st,
10th or 100th time he or she uses an inhalant.
Other effects include damage to the heart, kidney,
brain, liver, bone marrow and other organs.
Results similar to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome may
also occur when inhalants are used during pregnancy.
Inhalants are physically and psychologically addicting
and users suffer withdrawal symptoms.
See Damage
Inhalants Can Cause to the Body and Brain,
Long-Term
Effects of Inhalant Usage and Signs
and Symptoms of a Long-Term User for more
details.
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If someone you know is huffing, the best thing
to do is remain calm and seek help. Agitation
may cause the huffer to become violent, experience
hallucinations or suffer heart dysfunction which
can cause Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome.
Make sure the room is well ventilated and call
EMS. If the person is not breathing, administer
CPR. Once recovered, seek professional treatment
and counseling.
See What
To Do If Someone is Huffing for more details.
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Treatment facilities for inhalant users are rare
and difficult to find. Users suffer a high rate
of relapse, and require thirty to forty days or
more of detoxification.
Users suffer withdrawal symptoms, which can include
hallucinations, nausea, excessive sweating, hand
tremors, muscle cramps, headaches, chills and
delirium tremens.
Follow-up treatment is very important.
If you or someone you know is seeking help for
inhalant abuse, you can contact the National Inhalant
Prevention Coalition at 1-800-269-4237 for information
on treatment centers and general information on
inhalants. Through a network of nationwide contacts,
NIPC can help (but not guarantee) finding
a center in your area that treats inhalant use.
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It is never too early to teach your children
about the dangers of inhalants. Don't just say
"not my kid." Inhalant use starts as
early as elementary school and is considered a
gateway to further substance abuse.
Parents often remain ignorant of inhalant use
or do not educate their children until it is too
late. Inhalants are not drugs. They are poisons
and toxins and should be discussed as such.
There are, however, a few age appropriate guidelines
that can be useful when educating your children.
See Tips for Teachers for more details
on how much to tell your children or students
in the classroom about inhalants.
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NIPC leads the annual National Inhalants &
Poisons Awareness Week (NIPAW) every third
week in March. The next campaign will be held
March 18-24, 2001. This community mobilization
campaign has proven to be an effective tool for
fighting inhalant abuse. In Texas, where the campaign
originated, inhalant use decreased following widespread
involvement in NIPAW. For details on the campaign
and NIPAW coordination in your community, see
NIPAW
2001 .
Source: US Department of Health and Human
Services
Public Health Service
Agency for Health Care Policy and Research,
http://www.ahcpr.gov/
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