Inhalants

Quick Facts

What are inhalants?

  • Inhalants are products that produce chemical vapors that people inhale to get high. 
  • Most inhalants affect the central nervous system and slow down brain activity. 
  • Inhalants include products easily bought and found at home, school, or workplace and belong in 4 general categories:
    • Volatile solvents are liquids that become gas at room temperature and include:
      • Paint thinners and removers
      • Dry-cleaning fluids
      • Degreasers
      • Gasoline
      • Glues
      • Correction fluids (e.g. White Out)
      • Felt-tip markers and pens
    • Aerosols include:
      • Spray paints
      • Hair and deodorant sprays
      • Vegetable oil sprays for cooking
      • And fabric protector sprays
    • Gases include:
      • Anesthetics used for medical procedures like ether, chloroform, halothane, and nitrous oxide (laughing gas)
      • Household or commercial products that contain gases such as butane lighters, propane tanks, and refrigerants
    • Nitrates are sold in small bottles known as “poppers” that primarily dilate blood vessels and relax the muscles. They are usually not used to alter someone’s mood, but to improve sexual function
  • Using inhalants to try to get high, even once, can be very harmful to the brain and body. It can even lead to death. 

What are some street names for inhalants?

  • Gluey/Glue, Huff, Rush, Whippets, Chroming, Poppers, Snappers, Sniff

How are inhalants abused?

  • The rate of inhalant use has been generally declining in the U.S. in the past two decades.
  • Inhalants are most commonly used by young adolescents. 
  • People who use inhalants breathe them in through the mouth (“huffing” or “bagging”) or the nose (“sniffing” or “snorting”).

What are some signs that someone is using inhalants?

  • Chemical odors on breath or clothing
  • Paint or other stains on face, hands, or clothes
  • Hidden empty spray paint or solvent containers and chemical-soaked rags or clothing
  • Red or runny eyes or nose
  • Drunk or disoriented appearance
  • Slurred speech
  • Nausea or loss of appetite
  • Inattentiveness, lack of coordination, irritability, and depression 

What are the short-term effects of inhalant use?

  • Lowered inhibitions and increased risk-taking
  • Slurred or distorted speech 
  • Lack of body control
  • Euphoria (feeling “high”)
  • Dizziness and lightheadedness
  • Nausea 
  • Headaches 
  • Confusion 
  • Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t real)

What are the long-term effects of inhalant use?

  • Liver and kidney damage 
  • Irritability and depression
  • Acne around mouth and lips
  • Loss of coordination
  • Loss of smell and hearing 
  • Heart muscle damage 
  • Spasms in the arms and legs
  • Delayed behavioral development 
  • Brain damage 
  • Coma and possible death 

Treatment Options

  • Many people who use inhalants report a strong need to continue using them even if they wish to stop, particularly those who have used them for long periods or over many days. Regular use of inhalants can lead to symptoms of withdrawal after a person stops using them. 
  • Yamhill County Substance Use Programs offer a wide array of treatment options and programs for adults and youth, please visit our Alcohol and Drug Treatment page or call 503-434-7523 for more information.

Sources and Other Resources