Inhalants Drugs and Our Society Part 16

Types of Inhalants 1. Breathable chemical vapors - psychoactive effects / mind-altering - vaporize at room temperature a. Household / workplace products - can be inhaled - spray paints / gules / cleaning fluids - do not think of as drugs - never meant for intoxicating effect b. Young children / adolescents easily obtain

Types, cont. - most likely abuse extremely toxic b. Effects: similar to alcohol - CNS depressant - more volatile than alcohol 2. Three categories: - 10,000 products abused a. Volatile substances - increased substantially

Types, cont. (1) Adhesives - model glue / rubber cement ( polyvinylchloride ) (2) Aerosol sprays - paint / hair / deodorant / asthma / analgesic (a) Toluene: more dangerous chemical - lipid-soluble / low molecular weight / rapidly absorbed (b) Brain: large capacity to store - 10 times greater than blood levels

Types, cont. (3) Solvents / Gases - nail polish / paint remover / paint thinner / typing fluid / marking pens / gasoline (a) Gas: vaporizes at room temperature - toluene / benzene - intoxication: min. / 5 – 6 hrs. (4) Cleaning agents - dry clean fluid / spot remove / degreaser

Types, cont. (5) Dessert topping sprays - whipped cream / whippets b. Anesthetics (1) Gas / liquid / local - ether / chloroform / halothane / nitrous oxide (2) Nitrous oxide: significant abuse concern

Types, cont. c. Nitrites - room deodorizers - amyl nitrite / butyl nitrite - called “poppers” / “rush” / “locker room” / “bullets” 3. Use of inhalants - sniffed or huffed - immediate head rush (high) - from open container / paper bag / soaked rag

Use, cont. a. Not a controlled substance - states place restrictions - 5 to 15% young people tried - vast majority don’t become chronic abusers b. Using just one time = put at risk - sudden death (cardiac arrest) - suffocation (bags) - asphyxia: limit available oxygen - visual hallucinations - severe mood swings

Use, cont. - numbness / tingling: hands / feet - loss of muscle control - slurred speech - headache / muscle weakness - abdominal pain - decrease / loss: sense of smell - nausea / nosebleeds - violent behavior - irregular heartbeat - liver / lung / kidney impairment - brain damage

Use, cont. - involuntary passing: urine / feces c. Entry into brain - inhalation effects so fast - resemble intensity of intravenous injection of other psychoactive drugs d. Inhalant intoxication - resemble alcohol inebriation - with stimulation / loss of inhibition - followed by depression (high doses)

Use, cont. 4. Extent of use - often starts early - young people: cheap / accessible substitute - chronic / long-term: most difficult to treat - multiple psychological / social problems a. 8 th / 10 th / 12 th grade use - ever used: 21% / 18% / 16% - past year: 12% / 9% / 7% - past month: 6% / 3% / 2.5%

Current Patterns 1. Current patterns and signs of abuse - 4 th most common form of abuse (high school) - behind alcohol / tobacco / marijuana a. Popular because: - legally obtained - readily available - inexpensive - easy to conceal - intoxication / euphoria much more rapid - withdrawal less severe than alcohol

Patterns, cont. b. Adolescent / teenage use - typically a problem c. Usage decreases with age: (primary reason) - view use with disdain - unsophisticated / “kids” habit 2. Early use - early as preschool years a. 2 to 6 year olds inhaling gasoline vapors

Patterns, cont. - imitation of older siblings / neighbors - 7 / 8 year olds familiar with psychological effects of inhaling gasoline b. 21 st century shows decline in use among high school students - declined by 1.5% 3. Gender / race / socioeconomics - National Household Survey on Drug Abuse

Patterns, cont. a. Male (11%) / female (5.4%) - at least once in lifetime b. Gender difference diminishing - current survey: equal percentage (1%) - age 12 to 17: used in past month c. Caucasian more likely to use - white: 9.3%/ Hispanic: 5.5% / black: 3.5%

Patterns, cont. 4. Profile of chronic abuser - profile similar to other substance abusers a. Unhappy surroundings - severe family or school problems - poor self-image b. Gives accessible escape - occurs in episodic outbreaks - a particular school - particular geographic region

Patterns, cont. c. Isolated incidents - reflect faddish nature - continually fluctuating levels of abuse d. Not unique to U.S. - worldwide concern - low price / easy access - Asia / Africa / Latin America 5. Signs of abuse - uncoordinated / disoriented / drunk appearance

Patterns, cont. a. Red, watery eyes - nausea / slurred speech / headache / nosebleed b. Rashes (nose / mouth) - unexplained paint: hands / mouth / nose - smelling chemical ordor - unusual containers (soda can / plastic bag / rags / handkerchief) - aerosol whipped cream cans (not foam) - air conditioners that do not work

Patterns, cont. c. Frequent users have following: - collect unusual assortment of chemicals - glues / paints / thinners / solvents / nail polish / liquid eraser / cleaning fluids d. Occasionally: breath smells like solvents - have “sniffles” without other cold symptoms - appear drunk / recover quickly: 15 – 60 min - doing poor In school / usually unkempt e. Other signs:

Patterns, cont. - sit with pen / marker near nose - constantly smelling sleeves of shirt - hiding rags / clothes / empty containers - possessing chemical-soaked rags, bags, or socks - abusable household items missing 6. Dangers of inhalant abuse - besides danger to brain / lungs / liver / kidneys - or suffocation / asphyxiation

Dangers, cont. a. Severely injure themselves - fall or accidents - impaired driving b. Use during pregnancy - newborn at risk (developmentally) - toluene: reduce brain development / reduce birth weight / skeletal abnormalities c. Some consider “gateway” drug - cheap/obtainable: lead to alcohol/marijuana

Treatment of Abuse 7. Treatment - fewer times used / easier to stop - less likely severe physiological damage a. Do not cause dangerous physical dependence - can lead to psychological addiction - require professional counseling b. Programs rare / difficult to find - often resistant to treatment efforts - high rates of failure / relapse

Treatment, cont. - when compared to other forms of substance abuse c. Usually require longer-term treatment - to produce satisfactory outcome