Inhalants

What Is It?

Most inhalants are common household products that, when inhaled, cause a psychoactive (mind-altering) effect. There are literally hundreds of inhalants, including everyday products such as nail polish remover, glue, gasoline, household cleaners, and nitrous oxide ("laughing gas," which can be found in whipped cream dispensers and is often inhaled via a balloon). Inhalants also include fluorinated hydrocarbons found in aerosols such as hairspray, spray paint, and household cleaners.

Although the wide range of chemicals found in different products can have different effects, inhalants generally fall into three categories: solvents, gases, and nitrites.

Solvents include:

• Certain industrial or household products, such as paint thinner, nail polish remover, degreaser, dry-cleaning fluid, gasoline, and glue
• Some art or office supplies, such as correction fluid, felt-tip marker fluid, and electronic contact cleaner [1]

Gases include:

• Some household or commercial products, such as butane lighters, propane tanks, whipped cream dispensers, and refrigerant gases
• Certain household aerosol propellants, such as those found in spray paint, hair spray, deodorant spray, and fabric protector spray.
• Medical anesthetic gases, such as ether, chloroform, halothane, and nitrous oxide [2]

Nitrites include:

• Cyclohexyl nitrite (found in substances marketed as room deodorizers)
• Amyl nitrite (used for medical purposes)
• Butyl nitrite (previously used in perfumes and antifreeze, but now an illegal substance) [1]

How Many Teens Use Them?

National surveys report that more than 22.9 million Americans have abused inhalants at least once in their lives. [3] Abuse of inhalants often starts early. [2] Some young people may use inhalants as an easily accessible substitute for alcohol. [1] One national survey, conducted in 2003-2004, found that 2.5 percent of 4th-graders had used inhalants at least once in the year prior to being surveyed. [4]

According to a NIDA-funded survey of drug use among 8th-, 10th-, and 12th-graders, students in 8th grade regularly report the highest rate of inhalant abuse. [2] Use of inhalants gradually increased from 1976 until 1995 and then steadily declined until recently. The 2004 NIDA survey reported an increase in use among 8th graders. The survey reported that 17.3 percent of 8th-graders, 12.4 percent of 10th-graders, and 11.9 percent of 12th-graders had tried inhalants at least once in their life. [5]

In the United States in 2002, about 40 deaths were associated with inhalant abuse. [6]

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