An inhalant is a substance that gives off fumes which can be inhaled into the lungs. These fumes pass through the lungs and they then go through the lining of the lungs into the blood. The blood carries these fumes to the brain and then they start affecting your body. Inhalants are classified under three headings. They are solvents, gases and Nitrites.

Solvents include industrial or household solvents. They can also be in office supplies such as correction fluids, felt tip marker fluids, and contact cleaners. Gases are normally found in household and commercial objects. This can include whipping cream aerosols, and refrigerant gases. Nitrites are medications which lower your blood pressure to create a sense of excitement in your body.

These inhalants create affects that are very similar to what an anaesthetic does. They make you feel drunk, dazed, and dizzy. If it is used too much you can feel fatigue, and numbness. If used in excess amounts the user my become unconscious. Users of these materials sniff solvents, aerosols, and gases. Some of these items may include glue, gasoline; paint thinner, hair spray, deodorant, and insecticides.

There are many different types of inhalants and they all have a street name. Some street names are medusa, moon gas, Oz, pearls, poppers, poor man’s pot, Satan’s secret, and spray. There are many more names for different types of inhalants and they all have their own street name.

People who use inhalants can inhale it by snorting. This occurs when inhalant users spray aerosols into the nose or mouth. Another way they use inhalants is by putting an inhalant soaked rag into their mouth or sniffing the substance from a bag. This way is commonly used when these drug abusers take in nitrous oxide.

There are many risks when inhaling these substances. Some of them include nausea, coughing , nosebleeds, bad breath, not being able to coordinate your body properly and a loss of appetite. They can also affect how your heart runs and they can affect your decisions. People who use these drugs face the risks of a loss of self control, violent behaviour, unconsciousness and death. Long term risks of using inhalants could be fatigue, muscle fatigue and an imbalance of salts in your body. These drugs can affect your bone marrow, liver, kidneys, and blood.

Inhalants can also be used for medical purposes. Since inhalants have the same effect as anaesthetics they can be used in dental operations. An inhalant that is used as anaesthetic is called nitrous oxide (laughing gas). This gas creates the same effect as an anaesthetic and it is used in operations. There is also another type of inhalant that can treat angina pectoris. Angina Pectoris is a disease that occurs when there is a lack of blood being pumped through your heart. Amyl nitrite is the drug given to correct this situation. It widens the arteries so that the blood can flow easier through the body.

Pre-teens and young teens are most likely to try inhalants. A survey was taken and the results showed that 30% of children aged 12-13, 39.2% of people aged 14-15 and 30.8% of people aged 16 or 17 had tried an inhalant before. The people who are most likely to use inhalants suffer from depression, are performing poorly at school, and come from poor families. Inhalant users are usually male. The uses of inhalants are very widespread. This is because they are cheap to buy and easily accessible.

Why People Use Inhalants?

There are many reasons why people use inhalants. One reason that people use inhalants is that they find it exciting. When an inhalant is used it brings a feeling of excitement into the body. Inhalants can also be used to hide from problems that are occurring in the user’s life. A popular reason why individuals use inhalants is that it is cheaper to purchase inhalants than alcohol. Since inhalants can be found in household items they are looked upon as being harmless. If a student has pressure to succeed in their school work they may resort to abusing inhalants. Probably the biggest reason people use inhalants is because of peer pressure. Peer pressure is a major reason why drug abuse occurs. Being “in” with crowd makes the person feel cool.

Myths about Inhalants

One of the most common myths about inhalants is that they are safe to use because they can be found around the house. This is not true because these drugs may be used for regular household uses but they can be also used in harmful ways. A lot of people think inhalants are harmless. This is why abusers start to use it. An example of this is glue. Since they are used commonly in everyday life people may not think that they would be harmful. These substances can be used in ways that are harmful to your body such as by being sniffed. Another example of an inhalant that would be seem harmless is nail polish remover. This item is also used commonly around the house. If this substance is inhaled , it can cause tremendous damage to your lungs.

Resources For education, prevention, and drug abuse

There are many resources one can go to for the education of drugs. They are Skills For Life, Growing Healthy, and Life Skills Training. All these organizations provide information on different types of drugs in order to prevent someone from using them. They do this by educating people about the risks and affects of using these drugs and how to avoid them. For those who are addicted to a drug they can go to one of the following resources or organizations to get help. These organizations are Self-Help & Information Exchange Network, Addiction Technology Transfer Center, and the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Inc. Self-Help & Information Exchange Network helps drug abusers by connecting them with someone that can help take away their addiction to use these substances. They connect a person who is addicted to another organization so that they can get the help they need. One of the biggest resources for a drug abuser is Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA). This organization tries to stop drug abuse by working with the government.