By Kirsten Garrett, Samantha Foxx, Dante Kelly, Benjamin McBride and Patrick Peou INHALANTS

What are the names of the drugs?

Common street names: Air Blast Ames Amys Aroma of man Bolt boppers Bullet Bullet Bold Buzz Bomb Discorama Hardware Heart- on Hiagra in a bottle Highball Hippie crack Huff o Laughing gas o Locker room o Medusa o Moon gas o Oz o Pearls o Poor mans pot o Poppers o Quicksilver o Rush snappers o Satan's secret o Shoot the breeze o Snappers o Snot balls Spray Texas shoe shine Thrust Toilet water Toncho Whippets Whiteout

What type of drug is it?

Inhalants fall into the following categories: Aerosols — sprays that contain propellants and solvents Household aerosol propellants in items such as spray paints, hair or deodorant sprays, fabric protector sprays, aerosol computer cleaning products, and vegetable oil sprays Gases — found in household or commercial products and used as medical anesthetics Household or commercial products, including butane lighters and propane tanks, whipped cream aerosols or dispensers (whippets), and refrigerant gases Medical anesthetics, such as either, chloroform, halothane, and nitrous oxide Volatile solvents — liquids that vaporize at room temperature Industrial or household products, including paint thinners or removers, degreasers, dry-cleaning fluids, gasoline, lighter fluid Art or office supply solvents, including correction fluids, felt-tip marker fluid, electronic contact cleaners, glue

These products contain a wide range of chemicals, such as... benzene (gasoline) butane (cigarette lighter refills, air fresheners) chlorinated hydrocarbons (dry cleaning chemicals, correction fluids) hexane (glues, gasoline) methylene chloride (varnish removers, paint thinners) nitrous oxide (whipped cream dispensers, gas cylinders) toluene (spray paints, rubber cement, gasoline)

How does the drug enter the body?

When the vapors are inhaled (1), they are absorbed through the lungs (2) which they then enter the bloodstream (3). Once in the bloodstream, the various chemicals or chemical travel to the brain (4) and to the other tissues throughout the body. Most of the inhalants that are abused stress/depress the functioning of the nervous system. But the effects of each inhalants are difficult to determine because each product is made of many different chemicals and each person may breathe in different amounts of each chemical. Though these chemicals do have significant effects on the nervous system!

What is this drug used for? (medicinal or illegal purposes)

INHALANTS ARE LEGAL:The products that are used as inhalants are legal, but people who use them to get high run the risk of really hurting or even killing themselves. For example; medicinal purposes: Dentists use nitrous oxide better known as "laughing gas" to help patiants with pain cause by the proceedure they are performing. Also if you have sinus problems the doctor will give you a nasal spray or vapor rub to help with breathing. And if you have asthma, the doctor will give you an inhaler or an aersol machine For example; getting high purposes: Kids young as 8 think that sniffing Sharpie markers or glue is "cool" because they say something like, "everyone is doing it" and it only takes one time to get hooked on huffing, paint, glue, cool whip, or any other kind of vapor chemical of some sort.

What are the short/long term effects on the body and mind?

Short-term effects: Slurred speech Dizziness Loss of coordination Impaired judgment Hallucinations Aggressiveness Apathy Unconsciousness Severe headaches Rashes around the nose and mouth Irregular and rapid heart beat Heart failure and death Long-term effects: Mus cle weakness Disorientation Loss of coordination Irritability Depression Memory loss, diminished intelligence Hearing loss Bone marrow damage Serious and sometimes irreversible damage to the heart, liver, Kidneys, lungs and brain

What are the possible effects in the social or emotional areas of PISES particularly toward friends and family?

Possible effects socially or emotionally towards friends and family would be that they are concerned and overwhelmed that they would have to see a loved on suffer from their addiction. Some would give up on them or take them to a rehab center.

Is there any physical or psychological dependence or addiction and how?

Yes, there's an addiction. Many people that abuse the inhalants find that they are "forced" to continue. They affect your brain and you could obtain mild withdrawal syndrome. Addiction would later follow up if you don't terminate your act.