Every day it seems like there is a new drug that has been discovered. Some of these drugs are discovered by kids, have been in our households in harm’s reach this whole time. You can find mind-altering chemicals in your workplace or school classroom even. Some of the least common drugs are called inhalants. Inhalants are substances that are administered only by breathing in fumes by nose or mouth. Such substances include solvents, aerosol sprays, gases & nitrates.
Inhalants can come in many forms that can be easily purchased at your local corner store and found in the home or workplace. Some of the products that can be used as inhalants include: cleaning products, markers, glue, spray paints and aerosol dust cleaner. This is not what the products are supposed to be used for, therefore, they are not considered drugs. They are easily obtained, so teenagers and young adults are usually the abusers of these dangerous products.
Different Phases of Inhalant Abuse
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NIH), there are four main types of inhalants:
- Solvents, which are liquids that become gas at room temperature. They include paint thinner, nail polish remover, gasoline, and glue.
- Aerosol sprays, such as spray paint, deodorant spray, and vegetable oil sprays
- Gases, including gas from lighters, whipped cream dispensers, and laughing gas
- Nitrites (prescription medicines for chest pain)
Inhalant abuse is often called huffing because the inhalant is breathed into the lungs by either spraying them into the nose or by soaking a small towel and holding it up to the face. Other ways to abuse inhalants include:
- Sniffing or snorting, where fumes are inhaled directly from the container
- Bagging, where the inhalant is soaked into a bag, then the fumes are inhaled
- Spraying, (aerosols) where the inhalant is sprayed directly into the nose or mouth
- Inhaling, where the inhalant is put into a balloon, then inhaled through the mouth out of the balloon
The high from inhalants only lasts a few minutes then causing the user to continue to use the drug over and over again for hours even. Abuse from this drug besides sudden death can lead to many health problems.
The NIH states that most inhalants affect your central nervous system and slow down brain activity. Inhalants can cause both short-term and long-term health effects:
- Short-term health effects include slurred or distorted speech, lack of coordination, euphoria (feeling “high”), dizziness, and hallucinations
- Long-term health effects may include liver and kidney damage, loss of coordination, limb spasms, delayed behavioral development, and brain damage
Even though it is rare, inhalants can become an addiction if, just like any other drug, they are repeatedly abused over a long period. Stopping the use can also cause withdrawal symptoms such as:
- mood changes
- loss of appetite
- nausea
- sweating
- insomnia
Inhalants can be concerning with addicts in early recovery living in a sober house or halfway houses. One of the many requirements for recovering addicts living in a sober or halfway house is no use of drugs or alcohol. There are drug and alcohol tests that are performed regularly. Because inhalants don’t show up on drug tests it is easy for addicts to get high and still be able to pass the drug tests therefore, they are able to stay in the sober house. This can be dangerous for the user and the other people living with them trying to stay sober.
Garden State Will Help With Your Inhalant Addiction
There are many addiction treatment centers, but what makes the Garden State Treatment Center different is our commitment to your success. From the moment a client steps through our doors, you’ll have our unmatched attention. We believe that being with you every step of the way throughout the early recovery process is the key to avoiding relapse or pitfall.
One of the factors responsible for the high success rate of our New Jersey drug rehab program is the fact that we keep our programs small and personalized. This helps in creating a more relaxed and comfortable environment during the addiction treatment process. Successful and effective New Jersey drug rehab programs provide individualized support and attention to patients in a comfortable environment.