Kids and InhalantsKids and InhalantsInformation and PreventionInformation and Prevention

August 2009

Training ObjectivesTraining ObjectivesRecognize what inhalants are and the Recognize what inhalants are and the

four types of inhalants. four types of inhalants. Identify common street names for Identify common street names for

inhalants. inhalants. Identify the ways inhalants are Identify the ways inhalants are

abused. abused. Identify the ways the body is affected Identify the ways the body is affected

by inhalant use.by inhalant use.

Recognize the ways inhalants can Recognize the ways inhalants can kill. kill.

Identify the signs of someone who Identify the signs of someone who may be abusing inhalants.may be abusing inhalants.

Identify some things parents can do Identify some things parents can do to prevent inhalant use.to prevent inhalant use.

Identify ways someone can be helped Identify ways someone can be helped who has an addiction to inhalants. who has an addiction to inhalants.

What Are Inhalants?What Are Inhalants? Inhalants are breathable chemical Inhalants are breathable chemical

vapors that produce psychoactive vapors that produce psychoactive (mind-altering) effects. (mind-altering) effects.

Examples of inhalants include glues, Examples of inhalants include glues, gasoline, paint thinner, rubber cement, gasoline, paint thinner, rubber cement, nail polish remover, correction fluids, nail polish remover, correction fluids, bleach, spray paint, hair spray and bleach, spray paint, hair spray and propane. propane.

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Kids And Inhalants: A Serious Kids And Inhalants: A Serious ProblemProblem

Many kids choose to “sniff” or “huff” Many kids choose to “sniff” or “huff” inhalants for many reasons. They are inhalants for many reasons. They are cheap, easily accessible (often in cheap, easily accessible (often in kitchen cabinets or garages) and they kitchen cabinets or garages) and they are purchased legally. are purchased legally.

Unfortunately many kids do not realize Unfortunately many kids do not realize how dangerous inhalants are. They how dangerous inhalants are. They can kill a person the very first time they can kill a person the very first time they use them. use them.

National surveys indicate that more National surveys indicate that more than 22.9 million Americans have than 22.9 million Americans have abused inhalants at least once in their abused inhalants at least once in their lives. lives.

NIDA's “NIDA's “Monitoring the Future”Monitoring the Future” study study reveals that 17.3 percent of eighth-reveals that 17.3 percent of eighth-graders have abused inhalants. graders have abused inhalants.

According to a study released by the According to a study released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, almost 1 million youth ages Services, almost 1 million youth ages 12 to 17, used some kind of inhalant in 12 to 17, used some kind of inhalant in 2007.2007.

Other national and state surveys Other national and state surveys suggest that inhalant use is most suggest that inhalant use is most prevalent among 7prevalent among 7thth, 8, 8thth and 9 and 9thth graders. graders.

Inhalants is often one of the first drugs Inhalants is often one of the first drugs that young children use. that young children use.

Inhalants may seem harmless to many Inhalants may seem harmless to many children and teens. Due to them being children and teens. Due to them being easily accessed in a home, kids may easily accessed in a home, kids may not even see inhalants as being not even see inhalants as being harmful.harmful.

Types of InhalantsTypes of Inhalants

According to Kids Health, there are According to Kids Health, there are four different types of inhalants. four different types of inhalants.

The first category is Volatile The first category is Volatile Solvents. These include liquids that Solvents. These include liquids that become a gas at room temperature. become a gas at room temperature. Examples include paint thinners and Examples include paint thinners and removers, gasoline, glues and felt-tip removers, gasoline, glues and felt-tip marker fluids.marker fluids.

The second category of inhalants The second category of inhalants include medical gases (ether, include medical gases (ether, nitrous oxide) and household or nitrous oxide) and household or commercial products. These commercial products. These products include propane tanks, products include propane tanks, refrigerants, butane lighters and refrigerants, butane lighters and whipped cream dispensers that whipped cream dispensers that contain nitrous oxide.contain nitrous oxide.

The third group of inhalants is The third group of inhalants is aerosol sprays. They are often aerosol sprays. They are often the most used inhalants in the the most used inhalants in the home and the easiest to access. home and the easiest to access. Aerosol sprays include spray Aerosol sprays include spray deodorant and hair sprays, deodorant and hair sprays, vegetable oil cooking sprays, vegetable oil cooking sprays, static cling sprays and spray static cling sprays and spray paint. paint.

The fourth category of inhalants is The fourth category of inhalants is nitrates. This includes cyclohexyl nitrates. This includes cyclohexyl nitrite, amyl nitrite, and butyl nitrate. nitrite, amyl nitrite, and butyl nitrate. The slang words for these products The slang words for these products is often “poppers” or “snappers.” is often “poppers” or “snappers.” They are found in some room They are found in some room deodorizers and capsules that deodorizers and capsules that release vapors when opened. release vapors when opened.

Common Street NamesCommon Street Names

Inhalants are often referred to as Glue, Inhalants are often referred to as Glue, Poppers, Huff, Sniff, Texas Shoeshine, Poppers, Huff, Sniff, Texas Shoeshine, Bang, Kick, Whippets, Laughing Gas, Bang, Kick, Whippets, Laughing Gas, Snappers, Bold and Rush.Snappers, Bold and Rush.

National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) and National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)and National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

How Are Inhalants Abused?How Are Inhalants Abused?

Inhalants can be breathed in through Inhalants can be breathed in through the nose or mouth in a number of ways the nose or mouth in a number of ways including: including:

““Sniffing” or “Snorting” fumes from Sniffing” or “Snorting” fumes from containers.containers.

Spraying aerosols directly into the Spraying aerosols directly into the mouth or nose.mouth or nose.

““Huffing” from an inhalant-soaked rag Huffing” from an inhalant-soaked rag stuffed in the mouth. stuffed in the mouth.

Sniffing or inhaling fumes from Sniffing or inhaling fumes from substances sprayed or placed into a substances sprayed or placed into a plastic or paper bag (also known as plastic or paper bag (also known as “bagging”).“bagging”).

Inhaling from balloons filled with Inhaling from balloons filled with nitrous oxide. nitrous oxide.

Intoxication lasts only a few minutes. Intoxication lasts only a few minutes. Due to this, abusers often try to make Due to this, abusers often try to make the high last longer by inhaling the high last longer by inhaling repeatedly over several hours. repeatedly over several hours.

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Effects of InhalantsEffects of InhalantsAccording to the According to the National National

Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI),Information (NCADI), inhalants effect inhalants effect the body in a number of ways. the body in a number of ways.

The brain is affected as substances or The brain is affected as substances or fumes are sniffed or huffed. They fumes are sniffed or huffed. They affect the brain with much greater affect the brain with much greater speed and force than many other speed and force than many other substances. They can cause substances. They can cause irreversible physical and mental irreversible physical and mental damage. damage.

According to the National Institute on According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the brain goes Drug Abuse (NIDA), the brain goes through many changes due to inhalant through many changes due to inhalant use. use.

Inhalants often contain more than one Inhalants often contain more than one chemical. While some of these chemical. While some of these chemicals quickly leave the body, chemicals quickly leave the body, others can remain for a long time, others can remain for a long time, being absorbed by fatty tissues in the being absorbed by fatty tissues in the brain and central nervous system. brain and central nervous system.

Myelin is one of these fatty tissues. It Myelin is one of these fatty tissues. It provides a protective cover that provides a protective cover that surrounds many of the body’s nerve surrounds many of the body’s nerve fibers or neurons. fibers or neurons.

Myelin helps the nerve fibers carry their Myelin helps the nerve fibers carry their messages to and from the brain. messages to and from the brain. Damage to myelin can slow down Damage to myelin can slow down communication between nerve fibers.communication between nerve fibers.

Long-term inhalant use can break Long-term inhalant use can break down Myelin, causing nerve cells down Myelin, causing nerve cells to not send messages as to not send messages as efficiently. This can result in efficiently. This can result in muscle spasms and tremors, or muscle spasms and tremors, or can lead to permanent difficulty can lead to permanent difficulty with basic actions such as walking, with basic actions such as walking, bending and talking. bending and talking.

Inhalants can also damage brain cells by Inhalants can also damage brain cells by preventing them from receiving enough preventing them from receiving enough oxygen. This condition, known as brain oxygen. This condition, known as brain hypoxia, will have varied effects. If the hypoxia, will have varied effects. If the hippocampus is affected, a person who hippocampus is affected, a person who repeatedly uses inhalants may lose the repeatedly uses inhalants may lose the ability to learn new things or have a hard ability to learn new things or have a hard time carrying on simple conversations. If the time carrying on simple conversations. If the cerebral cortex is affected, the ability to cerebral cortex is affected, the ability to solve complex problems or plan ahead is solve complex problems or plan ahead is diminished. If the cerebellum is affected, it diminished. If the cerebellum is affected, it can cause a person to move slowly or can cause a person to move slowly or clumsily. clumsily.

The heart is affected as well. Inhalants The heart is affected as well. Inhalants starve the body of oxygen and force the starve the body of oxygen and force the heart to beat irregularly and more heart to beat irregularly and more rapidly. rapidly.

Inhalants also affect other parts of the Inhalants also affect other parts of the body as people who use them can often body as people who use them can often experience nosebleeds and nausea; experience nosebleeds and nausea; develop lung, liver and kidney develop lung, liver and kidney problems; and lose their sense of smell problems; and lose their sense of smell or hearing. It can also lead to reduced or hearing. It can also lead to reduced muscle tone. muscle tone.

Certain inhalants can also cause the Certain inhalants can also cause the body to produce fewer blood cells, body to produce fewer blood cells, which can result in aplastic anemia. which can result in aplastic anemia. Persons with this condition are unable Persons with this condition are unable to produce blood cells. to produce blood cells.

Inhalants can also cause immediate Inhalants can also cause immediate death. A person can be killed instantly. death. A person can be killed instantly. Inhalant users can die by suffocation, Inhalant users can die by suffocation, choking on their vomit or having a choking on their vomit or having a heart attack. heart attack.

NCADI; NIDANCADI; NIDA

Short-Term EffectsShort-Term Effects

Short-Term effects of using Inhalants Short-Term effects of using Inhalants include: include:

▪▪Increased heart rateIncreased heart rate ▪▪Hallucinations or delusionsHallucinations or delusions ▪▪Losing feeling or consciousnessLosing feeling or consciousness ▪▪Nausea and vomitingNausea and vomiting ▪▪Loss of coordinationLoss of coordination ▪▪Slurred speechSlurred speech

Long-Term EffectsLong-Term Effects

Long-Term effects of using Inhalants Long-Term effects of using Inhalants include: include:

Brain damageBrain damage

Muscle weaknessMuscle weakness

DepressionDepression

Headaches and nosebleedsHeadaches and nosebleeds

Loss of hearing or sense of smellLoss of hearing or sense of smell

Kids HealthKids Health

Inhalants Can KillInhalants Can Kill

According to Kids Health, causes of According to Kids Health, causes of death due to inhalants include: death due to inhalants include:

▪▪““Sudden Sniffing Death” is the most Sudden Sniffing Death” is the most common cause of death from inhalant common cause of death from inhalant use. The heart beats quickly and use. The heart beats quickly and irregularly, and then stops. irregularly, and then stops.

▪▪Asphyxia occurs when toxic fumes Asphyxia occurs when toxic fumes replace oxygen in the lungs, so that a replace oxygen in the lungs, so that a person stops breathing. person stops breathing.

▪▪Suffocation can happen when Suffocation can happen when vapors are inhaled from a plastic bag vapors are inhaled from a plastic bag placed over the head. The bag can placed over the head. The bag can block air. block air.

▪▪Kids who use inhalants can often be Kids who use inhalants can often be injured. People high on inhalants injured. People high on inhalants often make bad decisions, such as often make bad decisions, such as driving under the influence or doing driving under the influence or doing something irrational. They could something irrational. They could also get burned or start explosions if also get burned or start explosions if a spark ignites flammable inhalants.a spark ignites flammable inhalants.

▪ ▪Choking occurs when a user chokes Choking occurs when a user chokes on his or her own vomit.on his or her own vomit.

▪▪Suicide can also be a result of Suicide can also be a result of inhalant use. Some people become inhalant use. Some people become depressed when their high wears off depressed when their high wears off and kill themselves.and kill themselves.

Signs Someone Is Using Signs Someone Is Using InhalantsInhalants

ExhaustionExhaustionExtreme anger or irritabilityExtreme anger or irritabilityLoss of appetiteLoss of appetiteFrequent vomitingFrequent vomitingMood swingsMood swingsHallucinations and delusionsHallucinations and delusionsFrequent nose running and coughingFrequent nose running and coughing

Dilated pupilsDilated pupilsFacial rashes and blistersFacial rashes and blistersSpots and/or sores around the mouthSpots and/or sores around the mouthExtremely bad breathExtremely bad breathChemical odors on clothingChemical odors on clothingPaint or other stains on a person’s Paint or other stains on a person’s

face, hands or clothingface, hands or clothingWeight lossWeight loss

DisorientationDisorientationUncoordinated movementUncoordinated movementMuscle weaknessMuscle weaknessSlurred speechSlurred speechDrunk, dazed, or dizzy appearanceDrunk, dazed, or dizzy appearanceRed eyesRed eyes

Kids Health, NIDA, NCADI and Parents. The Anti-DrugKids Health, NIDA, NCADI and Parents. The Anti-Drug

What Can Parents Do to Prevent What Can Parents Do to Prevent Inhalant Use?Inhalant Use?

Parents must talk to their kids about Parents must talk to their kids about the dangers of using inhalants. Most the dangers of using inhalants. Most young children do not realize how young children do not realize how dangerous inhalants can be. dangerous inhalants can be.

Parents should also be careful about Parents should also be careful about how common household products how common household products are stored in their homes. are stored in their homes.

Parents. The Anti-DrugParents. The Anti-Drug

Several kinds of treatment are available Several kinds of treatment are available for drug addiction. According to for drug addiction. According to Kids Kids HealthHealth, behavioral treatment is , behavioral treatment is primarily used for inhalant addiction. primarily used for inhalant addiction.

An expert in drug treatment will teach An expert in drug treatment will teach people how to function without drugs, people how to function without drugs, as well as how to handle cravings, how as well as how to handle cravings, how to avoid situations that could lead to to avoid situations that could lead to inhalant use, and how to prevent and inhalant use, and how to prevent and handle relapses.handle relapses.

Overcoming addiction is difficult without Overcoming addiction is difficult without professional help and support. No one can professional help and support. No one can do it alone. A counselor or the local yellow do it alone. A counselor or the local yellow pages can be a resource into finding the help pages can be a resource into finding the help that is needed. that is needed.

The The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Center for Services Administration’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT)Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) offers a offers a National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Service National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Service that provides free and confidential that provides free and confidential information on hotlines and counseling information on hotlines and counseling services. The toll-free number is 800-662-services. The toll-free number is 800-662-4357; treatment centers can also be found by 4357; treatment centers can also be found by accessing www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov.accessing www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov.

For More InformationFor More InformationSAMHSA’s National Clearinghouse for SAMHSA’s National Clearinghouse for

Alcohol and Drug Information, Alcohol and Drug Information, http://download.ncadi.samhsa.gov/prevlihttp://download.ncadi.samhsa.gov/prevline/pdfs/PHD631/T4T_Brochure_Inhalantne/pdfs/PHD631/T4T_Brochure_Inhalants_2008_Compliant_2p.pdfs_2008_Compliant_2p.pdf

National Institute on Drug Abuse National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), (NIDA), http://www.nida.nih.gov/ResearchReporthttp://www.nida.nih.gov/ResearchReports/Inhalants/Inhalants.htmls/Inhalants/Inhalants.html

http://www.nida.nih.gov/ResearchReporthttp://www.nida.nih.gov/ResearchReports/Inhalants/Inhalants2.html#whats/Inhalants/Inhalants2.html#what

Kids Health, Kids Health, http://teenshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohohttp://teenshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/drugs/inhalants.htmll/drugs/inhalants.html

Parents.The Anti-Drug, Parents.The Anti-Drug, http://www.theantidrug.com/drug_info/http://www.theantidrug.com/drug_info/drug_info_inhalants.aspdrug_info_inhalants.asp

http://www.theantidrug.com/drug_info/http://www.theantidrug.com/drug_info/drug_info_inhalants_quickfacts.aspdrug_info_inhalants_quickfacts.asp

Missouri Department of Social Services Missouri Department of Social Services State Technical Assistance TeamState Technical Assistance Team

Address:Address:

PO Box 208PO Box 208Jefferson City, MO Jefferson City, MO 65102-020865102-0208

Telephone: Telephone: (573) 751-5980(573) 751-5980(800) 487-1626(800) 487-1626(8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST, (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST, Monday – Friday) Monday – Friday)

Email:Email:

   dls.stat@dss.mo.gov