Inhalant Dependence

What are inhalants?

Inhalants are chemicals that produce fumes, such as glue, paint thinner, or lighter fluid. Children and teens abuse inhalants because they are easy to get and have mind-altering effects when sniffed or "huffed." These chemicals reach the lungs and bloodstream very quickly and can be deadly. High concentrations of inhalant fumes can cause heart failure or suffocation. Using inhalants with other depressant drugs such as alcohol or sleeping pills can be fatal.

Using inhalants regularly for a long time can cause permanent health problems. These include memory loss, brain damage, personality changes, muscular weakness, fatigue, and nerve damage starting in the hands and feet. Inhalants permanently harm your liver, kidneys, eyes, bone marrow, heart, and blood vessels.

Young people who use inhalants heavily may not learn how to solve problems, handle their emotions, and become mature, responsible adults.

Children born to inhalant-abusing mothers may have growth and development problems.

What is inhalant dependence?

Inhalants can cause psychological dependence. This means you feel that you cannot function normally without them.

How does it occur?

Inhalants change body chemistry, especially in the brain. At first you use the drugs because they may make you feel better. As you become dependent, you believe life is impossible unless you continue to use the drug.

People have a higher risk of becoming dependent on inhalants if they:

• have a mental illness such as depression or anxiety
• have a family history of drug abuse
• abuse other drugs.

What are the symptoms?

You may be dependent on inhalants if you have been using them and:

• are unable to control your movements, get clumsy, and slur your words
• become psychotic (for example, think you can fly and injure yourself)
• lose your sex drive or show odd sexual behavior
• develop disturbed thinking or become paranoid
• become depressed
• start acting odd, suspicious, dramatic, or antisocial
• use inhalants throughout the day
• have problems such as missing school or work, fighting, and losing friends
• are not able to reduce or stop your use of inhalants even though you know they are hurting you
• feel exhilarated ("high") and are hyperactive
• have trouble making sensible decisions
• get sleepy and may move slowly
• have ringing in the ears, dizziness, and blurred vision
• become nervous, upset and disoriented
• have headaches and chest and stomach pains
• feel nauseous and throw up
• have weak muscles and trouble speaking
• hallucinate (see or hear things that aren't there)
• become aggressive and violent.

How is it diagnosed?

Your health care provider will ask about your symptoms and substance use and examine you. A sample of your urine may be tested for drug use.

How is it treated?

For any treatment to be successful, you must want to give up using inhalants.

If you have used inhalants for a long time, withdrawal is not easy. When you stop inhaling, you may go through withdrawal symptoms, such as being irritable, restless, depressed, slow, and tired. You may get aggressive or have chills, headaches, and hallucinations. It is best to stop use of inhalants under supervised care.

You may be prescribed antipsychotic medicines such as haloperidol (Haldol), aripiprazole (Abilify), risperidone (Risperdal), olanzapine (Zyprexa), quetiapine (Seroquel), or ziprasidone (Geodon).

Alternative treatments such as vocational counseling and testing, and job training and placement may be helpful to young adult users.

How long will effects last?

Neither psychotherapy nor standard drug rehab treatment have been very successful with inhalant users. Users suffer a high rate of relapse and need 30 to 40 days or more of medical detoxification. Follow-up treatment is very important.

How can I take care of myself?

The best way to help yourself is to see your health care provider and stop using inhalants.

Changing your lifestyle can also help you to stop using inhalants. Make the following a regular part of your life:

• Exercise 30 minutes 3 times a week.
• Develop ways to relax. For example, talk with supportive people, listen to music, watch movies, or take walks.
• Think of good things about your life often.
• Eat healthy meals.
• Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol
• Get 8 hours of rest each night.
• Practice deep breathing exercises when you feel stressed.
• Get help at home and work when the load is too great to handle.
• Seek professional help for dealing with especially stressful events in your life.

If you or someone you know is seeking help for inhalant abuse, contact the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition at 1-800-269-4237 for information on treatment centers and general information on inhalants.