The document discusses inhalants - substances that are intentionally inhaled to induce a high. It identifies four categories of inhalants and common street names. Inhalant use is most prevalent among young adolescents and children. Short-term effects include nausea and loss of coordination, while long-term use can cause brain damage, muscle weakness, and depression. Inhalants pose serious health risks like sudden sniffing death and injuries. Signs of inhalant abuse include mood swings and hallucinations. Younger users are drawn to the low cost and easy access of inhalants.

1. Inhalants
Nicola Jones

2. Inhalants
 Intentional breathing of gas or vapors
with the purpose of reaching a high

3. Types of Inhalants
Four different categories of Inhalants
 Volatile solvents: liquids that
become a gas at room
temperature Ex. Paint thinners
removers, gasoline, glues
 Aerosol Sprays: some of the
most prevalent inhalants in the
home includes spray
paint, deodorant, hair
sprays, vegetable oil, cooking
sprays and static cling sprays
 Gases: include medical gases,
household or commercial
products ex. Propane tanks,
whipped cream dispensers
 Nitrites: Street names
“Poppers” or “Shappers” which
are found in some room
deodorizers and capsules that
release vapors when opened

4. Street Names

Air blast

Hardware

Snappers

Bolt

Hippie Crack

Spray

Boppers

Huff

Whippets

Bullet

Laughing Gas  Whiteout

Buzz bomb

Poor man’s
pot

Poppers

5. Who’s at Risk?
 Most commonly abused by young adolescents and
children
 In 2011, NIDA took a survey of high schoolers who
used inhalants
 “The only class of substance abused more by
younger than by older teens” (NIDA)

6. The highest percentage was among 8th graders at
about 13%

7. What Does it Do to Our Bodies
 Effects are similar to those of anesthetics which
slows the body’s function
 Can experience slight stimulation
 Feelings of less inhibition/loss of consciousness
 Can suffer sudden sniffing death syndrome
 This means the user can die the 1st, 10th, or
100th time they use an inhalant
 Causes damage to the
heart, kidney, brain, liver, bone marrow and other
organs

8. Long and Short Term Damage
 Short-term:
 Increased heart rate
 Hallucinations or delusions
 Losing feeling or



consciousness
Nausea and vomiting
Loss of coordination
Slurred speech
 Long-term
 Brain damage
 Muscle weakness
 Depression
 Headaches/nosebleeds
 Loss of sense of smell or
hearing

9. What are the Risks?
Signs of a User
 Inhalants can kill you in many
different ways
 Sudden sniffing
death, asphyxia, choking, s
uffocation,
 Can cause injuries or lead
someone to commit suicide
 Some of the signs of inhalant
abuser
 Mood swings
 Extreme
anger, agitation, irritability
 Exhaustion
 Loss of appetite
 Frequent vomiting
 Hallucinations/illusions
 Facial rashes/blisters

10. Why use Inhalants?

Why do people choose to use inhalants?






Ease of access– price, availability, not illegal, easily
stolen
Experimentation
Peer group pressure
Enjoyment
Escape from issues in their lives
Like other drug abusers, inhalant users are generally
categorized into 3 groups



Experimental users: try it and don’t’ like it
Occasional users: social and recreational use
Chronic users: long term use

11. Quote
 “The use of inhalants is a big
concern since these products
are legal and can result in
irreparable brain damage or
death”
 Charles Curie

12. Discussion Question
 Does it surprise you that the majority of the
users are so young? What do you think
could be done to help stop this issue?

13. Resources

National inhalant prevention coalition. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.inhalants.org/about.htm

National institute on drug abuse. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/inhalants

National inhalants information service. (2013, October).
Retrieved from
http://www.inhalantsinfo.org.au/inhalant_users.php

National institute on drug abuse: Drugfacts.
(2012, September ). Retrieved from
http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/inhalants

Teenshealth:inhalants. (2012, Jan). Retrieved from
http://kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/drugs/inhalants.html