Inhalants Your Brain on Drugs (Volatile Solvents, Gases, Aerosol Sprays, Nitrites)

When most people think about drug abuse and drug addiction, inhalants are not usually the first substances that come to mind. But statistics show that more than 23 million Americans have experimented with inhalants at some point in their life. By age 13, one in five children has used them. Inhalants such as aerosols, gases and solvents are some of the most common drugs tried by children. After tobacco, alcohol and marijuana, they are the most abused substance in the nation.

Volatile Solvents, Gases, Aerosol Sprays & Nitrites

There are four main types of inhalants, and most of them are commonly found in many households. Although the intended use of most of these inhalants is for cleaning, painting or other household purposes, when they are used to get high they can be deadly. Aerosol sprays are some of the most common inhalants found in households, and they can include spray paints, deodorants, and dust cleaning sprays. They are easily obtainable and accessible by children of all ages, and most parents do not realize how dangerous they can be.

Gases can be either medical substances such as ether or nitrous oxide, or commercial products such as butane lighters or refrigerants. Volatile solvents are liquids that turn into gas at room temperature, such as paint thinners, gasoline, glue and the chemicals from felt-tip markers. Nitrites, which are commonly called "poppers" or "snappers" can be found in room deodorizers and other products. When opened, they release a vapor that is inhaled by the user.

The Effects of Inhalants

Whether inhalants are sniffed, snorted, sprayed directly into one's nose, or inhaled through a rag, paper bag, or balloon, they can all have very dangerous effects on the brain and the body. Inhalants can be deadly, even at their first time of use. When the vapors are inhaled, they are absorbed into certain parts of the brain, and most of them slow down the user's body function. The effects of the drug abuse of inhalants are similar to that experienced by people who have an alcohol addiction or alcohol abuse problem. Their speech becomes slurred, and they can become tired, dizzy and have impaired motor skills.

Other side effects of inhalants include increased heart rate, unconsciousness and vomiting. People can die from using inhalants a number of different ways, including cardiac arrest, asphyxiation, choking on their own vomit, suffocation, and fatal injury. Inhalants are also extremely addictive, and long-term effects of drug addiction to inhalants include brain damage, depression, weakness, frequent headaches and nosebleeds.  Since the high experienced from using inhalants only lasts a few minutes, users often inhale the chemicals over and over again to keep their buzz going. This makes them even more dangerous, as more of these toxic chemicals are entering the user's body.

Inhalants are as dangerous as many drugs that are bought illegally. What's scary about these substances is that they are found in most households and most of them can be purchased from any grocery store or supermarket. In order to help prevent the abuse of inhalants, it's important for parents to educate their children about the dangers associated with their use and to try and keep them out of reach. Treatment programs for inhalant abuse and addiction are similar to those in drug rehab and alcohol rehab. Although inhalant addiction is not commonly thought of as a serious drug addiction, it is a common problem especially among young adults and children. Inhalants are dangerous, addictive, and they can be deadly.