Inhalants

Inhalants are chemicals vapors that people breathe in to help bring about mind-altering results. Many of the products that are used as inhalants are common products found in the home or offices. Most people do not even think of them as drugs or as being addictive. These products include such everyday items as spray paint, glue and gasoline.

Because these products are so readily available they are often the form of drugs that children start out with. Inhaling the vapors from these substances can be quite addictive and fatal.

The inhalants can be divided into several different categories. These are:

Gases

• Spray deodorants
• Butane lighters
• Propane tanks
• Aerosol products
• Cleaning products
• Spray paint

Solvents

• Paint thinner
• Glue
• Nail polish remover

Nitrates

• Leather cleaner
• Video head cleaner

The effect that inhalants have on the body is that they slow down the functions, similar to what you would feel if you were intoxicates. However, the effects don’t last very long, but if you breathe in the vapors for a long period of time, the effects will last longer. You will become more relaxed and less inhibited, which could prove to be dangerous. If you inhale these substances long enough, you could lose consciousness.

Inhaling the chemicals in solvents or aerosol sprays is very dangerous because of the high concentration. These inhalants could cause heart failure and death in a matter of minutes if you repeatedly inhale the vapors for any length of time. This is often called “sudden sniffing death”. The high concentrations of the chemicals in these aerosol sprays can also cause death by suffocation. Inhaling the vapors into the lungs causes the chemicals to take the place of oxygen and cut off the air supply. Deliberately inhaling them from a paper bag increases this possibility.

Long-term abuse of inhalants can lead to liver and kidney disease, hearing loss, brain damage and damage to the bone marrow. This is why it is extremely important to make sure you store all these chemicals in a safe place away from children.