Inhalants
andyUseche, with emotional support from Wyatt Thomspon
What are inhalants?
Inhalants are ordinary household products which produce chemical fumes that can be inhaled to get high. The chemicals found in them usually change the way the body functions on both the long and short term, making them harmful.
This drug solely makes up the Intoxicating Inhalant class.
Examples
Generally, if it doesn't smell too natural or edible, it can probably be abused as an inhalant.
How are they abused?
Several different ways, all of which involve respiration
- Sniffing fumes fresh out the container
- Spraying aerosols directly into the nose or mouth
- Spraying them into a bag, then inhaling it outa the bag
- "Huffing" from an inhalant soaked rag
- Inhaling from balloons
The picture below summarizes this
Long and Short Term Effects
As inhalants are inhaled, they don't take long to affect someone. The highs begin quickly and don't last long. Short term effects mostly include general intoxication and long-term effects, damage to the nervous system that inhibit basic, vital, logical thinking.
Short-Term
- Slurred speech
- Lack of coordination
- Euphoria, intense happiness
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- Unconsciousness
- Headaches
- Possible Hallucinations or Delusions
Long-Term
Damage to brain cells, weakening the ability to
- Problem solve
- Plan ahead
- Move without clumsiness
- Carry on conversations
- Remember
- Learn
Damage to nerves, causing muscle spasms which lead to issues with
- Walking
- Bending
- Talking
Can you get addicted?
Of course, you can get addicted to anything; even if they don't contain an addictive substance like nicotine.
Addiction usually occurs in those who abuse inhalants frequently over long periods of time. The necessity for a high or rush becomes too much and they feel sick or weak, powerless without their inhalants.
Can you die tho?
Yes, needless to say inhaling something that isn't air, especially over long periods of time usually leads to illness or death, possibly caused by the following
- Cardiac Arrest: irregular and quick heart beats that stop the heart
- Asphyxiation and Suffocation: Air is blocked from entering the lungs by fumes, respiration is cut off
- Seizures: abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, causing convulsions, sudden irregular movements of the body
- Coma: the brain can't handle the fumes/chemicals and shuts down all but the most vital bodily functions
- Choking: on your own vomit after sniffing , or maybe just choking on a mouth full of reddiwhip
- General Injury: who know what kinda dangerous stuff could happen after someone inhales 200ml of oxy-clean
Brandon Rogers Inhalents
Is sharpie sniffing dangerous?
Obviously
How many teens abuse their deodorant?
Inferences
- This drug's use is more common amongst 8th graders, and quickly declines later in life
- 49%, Most, of 8th Graders who have used an inhalant in their lifetime had used it within a year, proving that the drug is introduced during the 13-14 y/o age span.
- The abuse of Inhalants during 8th grade relatively new, as the number of 12 graders who had abused an inhalant in their lifetime is smaller than the other 2 groups', meaning that 12th graders who had been in 8th grade in 2010-11 we not introduced with inhalants as much as 2015's 8th Graders are.
All this data basically means that inhalants are a primarilly a problem for 7th-9th Graders
What should you do if an inhalant abuser needs help?
For addiction, try talking to the Nation Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK
To find treatment for an inhalant related illness, the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility locator at 1-800-662-HELP
What should I take away from this?
Inhalents, and drugs in general, are pretty bad and you shouldn't abuse them