The Scary Truth About Inhalant Abuse Among Adolescents |
Joy Eloms created for Adolescent Development April 11, 2006 |
What are Inhalants?
Inhalants refer to more than a thousand household products than can be used abused by inhaling them through you mouth or nose to get a intoxicating feeling. The products contain volatile solvents and substances commonly found in things like paint products, lighter fluids and cleaning solvents. They ar easily accessible and cheap.
Inhalant users can ingest substances through various ways such as in haling directly from containers, or holding a plastic bag over the mouth and nose, or sniffing a cloth saturated with the substance.
There are four most commonly abused Inhalants
1. Volatile Solvents- Liquids that vaporize at room temperature, including paint thinner and removers, gasoline, glues, correction fluids, and felt-tip marker fluids.
2. Aerosols- Sprays that contain propellant and solvents such as spray paints, deodorants and hair sprays.
3. Gases- Medical anesthetics, such as laughing gas, and gases that are found in butane lighters, propane tanks and whipped cream dispensers.
4. Nitrite- They primarily dilate blood vessels and relax the muscles. They include room odorizes and "poppers".
The Secret names for inhalants
1. Air blast 2.Ames 3.Oz 4. Moon Gas 5. Shoot the breeze 6. Poor Mans Pot. 7.Snappers 8. Snorting 9. Hardware 10.Honey Oil 11.Climax. 12. Laughing Gas 13. Pearls 14. Rush
Who uses inhalants and why?
Inhalants are most commonly used among young adolescents because inhalants can easily be found in household products. These products are and inexpensive, legal, and can easily be used as a social activity among peers.
1. Six percent of U.S. children have tried inhalants by the time that they reach fourth grade.
2. In 1999 about ten percent of eighth graders had abused inhalants
3. Inhalant is higher for boys than girls in grades 4 thru 6.
5. Adolescents abuse inhalants in both rural and urban areas. It is also common for adolescents that live in poverty, been abused, or dropped out of school to use inhalants.
Signs of Inhalant Abuse
1. Paint or Stains on body or clothing
2.Spots or sores around the mouth
3.red or runny eyes or nose
4.chemical breath odor
5.emotional apathy
6.drunk,dazed or dizzy appearance
7.nausea loss of appetite
8.chronic absence from school, failing grades
9.anxiety, excitability, irritability
The Dangers of Using Inhalants
Inhalants depress the central nervous system which causes your heart beat to slow down. If a user becomes anxious or frightened, an increase of adrenaline occurs in the body, making the heart respond more erratically. At this point blood and oxygen no longer reach your brain, and someone who appears fine can die from sudden sniffing death syndrome.
Other dangers include:
Damaged lungs and impaired breathing occurs with repeated use
Chronic use can lead to muscle wasting and reduced muscle tone and strength
A severe rash around the nose and mouth, referred to as "glue snuffer's rash," may result
Loss of hearing
Damage to the brain can cause personality changes, memory impairment, hallucinations, loss of coordination, and slurred speech
Liver Lung and Kidney disease
inability to perform everyday actions such as walking, talking, and thinking
Damage to the nerves may result in numbness, tingling, and paralysis
Treatment and What to do if someone is using inhalants
Do not Panic
Call 911 if the person stops breathing or is unconscious
Do not excite or argue with the abuser because excitement or stimulation can cause hallucinations or violence.
Move away from peers that may abuse inhalants
Build yourself good self-esteem and self-confidence
Seek a Physician
Inhalant use is very dangerous and can be harmful to your body and I hope that this web site was helpful to you. For more information on legal substance use you can visit www.teendrugabuse.us/inhalants.html
You can also visit the homepages of Sarah and Wanda
Take some fun quizzes at www.acde.org/common/alerts/inhalants%20aLERT_files/inhalants_quiz_true_or_false.htm