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,
suffocation,
 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