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Inhalants
Australian Drug Foundation © 2005
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This information has been adapted from the pamphlet How Drugs Affect You: Inhalants, produced by the Australian Drug Foundation. For single copies of this pamphlet phone 1300 85 85 84 or email druginfo@adf.org.au (Victoria only). Multiple copies are available from the ADF Bookshop.
What are inhalants?
Inhalants are a range of products that produce vapours which, when inhaled, may cause a person to feel intoxicated or "high". Inhalants are "depressants", which means that they slow down the activity of the brain and central nervous system. As a result, the messages going between the brain and the body are slowed down.
Inhalants include the organic solvents present in many domestic and industrial products (such as glue, aerosol, paints, industrial solvents, lacquer thinners, gasoline or petrol, and cleaning fluids) and the aliphatic nitrites such as amyl nitrite.
Street names
"glue", "gas", "sniff", "huff", "chroming" (as in the use of chrome paint), "poppers"
Method of use
The substance is inhaled through the nose or mouth, or sprayed into a plactic bag, poured into a bottle, or soaked onto a cloth before being inhaled.
Who uses inhalants?
Teenagers have been identified as the most prevalent group of inhalant users. Some adults involved in the "dance scene" also use inhalants to heighten their experience. There are three broad categories of people who use inhalants:
- The experimenter: The majority of people fall into this category. They try it once or twice, then stop by themselves.
- Social/situational user: Usually done with a group of friends. The amount of use varies, depending on what else is going on in their lives. These people often develop other interests and move out of this practice.
- The long-term, dependent user: A small number of people go on to use on a regular basis over a long time. They generally have other major problems in their lives. They may use inhalants alone, or with other people who use regularly.
Effects of inhalants
Inhalants are rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream from the lungs, so small amounts can affect you quite quickly (3–5 minutes). The effects are usually over within an hour of inhaling.
Immediate effects
- Fewer inhibitions: Feeling less inhibited, laughting, becoming excited and generally feeling intoxicated are effects felt within 3 to 5 minutes of using inhalants. A sustained "high" can be achieved by repeated use.
- Excitement: The person’s mood can vary from mild excitement to euphoria. Sometimes they may become agitated and uneasy.
- Confusion and disorientation. Inhalants can also cause hallucinations and delusions.
- Drowsiness: The initial excitement is often followed by drowsiness.
- ’Flu-like symptoms: Inhalants may cause sneezing, coughing, glazed eyes or a runny nose, like having a cold or the ’flu.
- Nausea: Inhalants can make people feel sick and have diarrhoea.
- Unpleasant breath: After using inhalants people often have the smell of the product on their breath.
- Nosebleeds and sores: Inhalants may also cause nosebleeds, bloodshot eyes and sores around the mouth and nose.
These effects usually occur over within an hour of inhaling. Hangovers and headaches may occur after the immediate effects have passed. Sometimes these last for several days.
Overdose
Large amounts of inhalants can increase the chances of feeling disoriented, experiencing visual distortions and can further decrease coordination. Very high doses can cause black out, convulsions or coma.
Short-term use
With short-term use, most products rarely cause damage to the body. However, some glue sniffers have been admitted to hospital unable to control their movements or speak properly, and sometimes have convulsions. Most of these symptoms clear within a few hours. Some people may experience problems with their breathing passages, but this improves over time.
Long-term effects
People who use inhalants heavily and frequently may experience the following effects:
- Health problems: pale appearance, tremors, weight loss, tiredness, excessive thirst, loss of sense of smell and hearing, anaemia due to affected blood production, irregular heart beat and damage to heart muscle, liver and kidney damage.
- Logical thinking: memory impairment, reduced ability to think clearly.
- Irritable: users may feel irritable, hostile, depressed or persecuted.
Most long-term effects are not permanent and can be reversed if use is stopped. However, inhalation of cleaning products, correction fluid and aerosol sprays can cause permanent damage. The lead in petrol, and some of the chemicals in other inhalants, may build up in the body. This irritates the lining of the stomach and intestines, and can cause damage to the brain, nervous system, kidneys and liver. Prolonged and heavy use may even cause stupor or coma, problems with breathing, irregular heartbeat and sometimes seizures. Using inhalants (chroming, in particular), can cause blood vessels in the eyes to burst, making them completely red and eventually leading to blindness.
Other risks
A small number of people have died from using inhalants.
The main danger comes from accidents when "high", such as suffocation caused using plastic bags to inhale, choking on vomit when unconscious, and behaving recklessly.
Inhalants are highly flammable, so there is also the risk of severe bums if the inhalants ignite or explode.
"Sudden sniffing death" has followed the use of aerosol sprays, cleaning and correction fluids, and model aeroplane cement. It is believed that chemicals in these products can cause heart failure, particularly if the user is stressed or does heavy exercise after inhaling. This is very rare.
Tolerance and dependence
Tolerance can develop with regular use of inhalants. This makes it necessary to inhale more and more to get the same effect.
Dependence can be psychological, physical or both.
Regular use of inhalants can result in psychological dependence. They may find that using them becomes far more important than other activities in their life. They crave the substance and will find it very difficult to stop.
Chronic abuse of inhalants may result in physical dependence. This means the body gets used to functioning with the inhalant present.
Withdrawal
Withdrawal symptoms are not common but some people who are dependent on inhalants and suddenly stop using them may experience some mild withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, depression, loss of appetite, irritation, aggressive behaviour, dizziness, tremors and nausea.
Treatment options
A number of drug treatment options are available in Australia . Some aim solely for the person to achieve a drug-free lifestyle. Others recognise abstinence as one option among a number of strategies that have an overall aim of reducing harm and risks related to a person's drug use. Treatment is more effective if tailored to suit a person's circumstances and involves a combination of methods.
Some treatment options include counselling, group therapy, withdrawal (detoxification) and medication (pharmacotherapy). Residential and supervised/home withdrawal programs are available.
More on treatment
Pregnancy
Using inhalants during pregnancy can harm the foetus. The most likely result will be early labour, a premature baby and the associated breathing problems, and risk of infection. There is also an increased risk of of birth defects, seizures, miscarriage and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Check with your doctor or other health professional if you are taking or planning to take any substances during pregnancy, including prescribed and over-the-counter medications.
More on alcohol, other drugs and pregnancy
What to do in a crisis
If someone has an adverse reaction while using inhalants, it is very important that they receive professional help as soon as possible. A quick response can save their life.
- Immediately remove the obstruction to their breathing (for example, plastic bag).
- Call an ambulance. Dial 000. Don’t delay because you think you or your friend might get into trouble. Ambulance officers are not obliged to involve the police.
- Stay with the person until the ambulance arrives. Find out if anyone at the scene knows mouth-to-mouth resuscitation or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
- Ensure adequate air by keeping crowds back and opening windows. Loosen tight clothing.
- If the person is unconscious, don’t leave them on their back—they could choke. Turn them on their side and into the recovery position. Gently tilt their head back so their tongue does not block the airway.
- If breathing has stopped, give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. If there is no pulse, apply CPR.
- Provide the ambulance officers with as much information as you can about what inhalants were taken, how long ago, and any pre-existing medical conditions.
- Plan what to do in a crisis.
More information