The Hard Facts on Drugs - Inhalants

Inhalants are well recognized as being one of the most used and destructive drugs amongst children, teens, incarcerated people, and institutionalized people. An inhalant can be a gas, aerosol, or solvent, which is breathed and absorbed through the lungs. Most commonly used inhalants, which are used as recreational drugs are:nn

• Household products/organic solvantsn
  *Cleaning products, fast drying glues, nail polish removers
• Fuelsn
  *Gasoline (petrol), Kerosene
• Propellant gasesn
  *Hairspray, cooking spray, aerosol cans, freon

n nThe most common users of inhalants are teenagers. In fact, within Canada in 1993, a small native community of Davis Inlet, located in northern Labrador (Newfoundland, Canada), had great media attention. A problem was occurring where, children and teenagers were found sniffing gasoline from garbage bags. Both the provincial and Federal governments intervened, having to send many children and teenagers off to treatment.nn nTypical forms of use can include: inhaling the vapor using plastic bags held over the mouth, breathing in solvent soaked rags, and or breathing over an open container. Numerous side effects and damage can be done from using inhalants, such as:

• Alcohol like intoxicationn
• Intense euphorian
• Vivid hallucinationsn
• Emotional disturbancesn
• Cause hearing lossn
• Limb spasmsn
• Damage to the central nervous system and brainn
• Liver and kidney damagen
• Blood oxygen depletionn

nUnfortunately, many young people have died from using inhalants, due to:

• Hypoxia (lack of oxygen)
• Pneumonian
• Cardiac failure or arrestn
• Aspiration of vomitn

nThe scariest aspect of this is, these products, which are used as inhalants are found in every household, and can be purchased in every community. Awareness to this problem is the best solution to prevent it from occurring in the first place. For more information to help some battling an inhalant addiction, contact Narconon right away. Calln1-877-782-7409nToll FreenOr click here to contact us online. Works cited “Inhalants.” Wikipedia. 14 April. 2009. 15 April. 2009 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volatile_substance_abusenn© 2009 Narconon Trois-Rivières. All Rights Reserved. NARCONON is a trademark and service mark owned by Association for Better Living and Education and is used with its permission.