Inhalants

Inhalants are volatile substances or fumes that are usually found in common household products which are extremely toxic and pose serious dangers to youth. Typically these are breathable, chemical vapors that cause mind altering affects. Inhalants slow down the body’s functions by starving the body and brain of oxygen and force the heart to beat rapidly and irregularly, and keep oxygen from reaching the lungs. Research shows that most inhalants are extremely toxic and inhalant abuse can result in death from the first use. Inhalants are produced in three forms: Solvents (paint thinners, glues, office supplies, felt tip marker fluid,) Gases (butane lighters, propane tanks, whip cream aerosol dispensers, nitrous oxide) and Nitrates.

Inhalants slow down the body's functions, starving the body and brain of oxygen and forcing the heart to beat irregularly and rapidly.

Street Names:

Air blast, Ames, Amy’s, Aroma of man, Bolt, Boppers, Bullet, Bullet bolt, Buzz Bomb, Discorama, Hardware, Heart on, Higra in a bottle, Highball, Hippie Crack, Huff, Laughing Gas, Locke room, Medusa, Whip-its

Short-Term Effects:

• Slurred speech
• Dizziness
• Loss of coordination
• Impaired judgment
• Hallucinations
• Aggressiveness
• Apathy
• Unconsciousness
• Severe Headaches
• Rashes around the nose and mouth
• Irregular and rapid heartbeats
• Lightheadedness
• Nausea/vomiting

Long-Term Effects:

• Nerve damage
• Hearing loss
• Muscle spasms/Tremors
• Depression
• Chronic use can lead to permanent loss of everyday functions such as walking, talking, thinking
• Brain, liver, kidney damage
• Hypoxia (suffocation/asphyxiation)
• Heart failure
• Death