Inhalants consist of a large group of volatile substances whose chemical vapors can cause psychoactive effects. Inhalants are often common household and office products that are not considered drugs, but are inhaled to get high called “huffing.” The high is usually short-lived, causing abusers to continually inhale to sustain the effects.
Inhalants deprive the body of oxygen, a condition known as hypoxia. It causes users to feel lightheaded, euphoric, sometime with hallucinations, and delusions. Some inhaled chemicals will cause after effects of dizziness, drowsiness, and nausea.
The main categories of inhalants are:
Gases – found in a variety of household products like butane lighters, whipped cream aerosols, and refrigerator gases. There are several medical gases that are also abused, such as chloroform and nitrous oxide.
Volatile Solvents – these liquids vaporize at room temperature, are found in many products including: gasoline, paint thinners, lighter fluid, correction fluids, felt tip marker fluid, and glue.
Aerosols – solvents and propellents combined in items like spray paints, aerosol computer cleaning products, hair or deodorant sprays, fabric protector sprays, and vegetable oil sprays
Nitrates – volatile organic nitrates, including cyclohexyl, butyl, and amyl nitrites, often marked as “video head cleaner,” “room odorizer,” or “leather cleaner”
Inhalants are damaging to cells in the body, particularly in the brain, and can cause instant death from just one use. Long-term use can have severe effects like memory loss, the inability to learn new things, hearing loss, muscle spasms, tremors, and brain damage, . They can even permanently affect the ability to walk and talk.
Inhalants are found in most homes, and sold in nearly every store, making inhalant abuse extremely difficult to conquer. It is particularly troubling that inhalants are used primarily by teens in the United States because they are cheaper and easier to get than alcohol.
Inhalant Detox
Inhalant withdrawal symptoms can start suddenly and last for a long time. It is nearly impossible to conquer an inhalant addiction without professional help, since withdrawal can be extremely difficult, the products are used in every day, and the cravings are intense for inhalant abusers.
Withdrawal symptoms include:
- Irritability
- Intense cravings
- Restlessness
- Convulsions
- Seizures
- Severe depression
Since there is no way to predict how an individual will respond to withdrawal, close medical attention is advised. Our health professionals are trained to help individuals get through the detox process as painlessly and comfortably as possible.
Treatment for Inhalant Addiction
If you or someone you love is suffering from addiction, please call the Pasadena Recovery Center at (866) 663-3030. We’re available to talk with you twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. We promise confidentiality and professionalism. Our comprehensive treatment program will address each client’s issues on an integrated basis, understanding that addiction often has underlying emotional and behavioral issues that need to be resolved.
At Pasadena Recovery Center, our dedicated staff understands the disease of addiction and we’re proud to offer lifesaving treatment at an affordable cost. Our goal is to reintroduce sober individuals into society with the skills necessary to lead meaningful, productive lives, through a compassionate and comprehensive treatment program. There is hope and we’re here to help, so please take the first step towards a better life by contacting us today.
