What are Inhalants?

Inhalant abuse is hard to talk about because of the confusing terms used to describe it. Substances such as glue, gasoline, anesthetic gases and nitrites have all been discussed under the title of inhalant abuse. The only think in common is the way in which they are taken into the body. Even calling them "inhalants" fails to describe the variety of ways people self-administer these substances.

There are at least three chemically different types of inhalants; volatile hydrocarbons, amyl and butyl (volatile) nitrites, and anesthetic gases. The users of these three types of substances use them for different reasons and experience different effects.

Volatile hydrocarbons (including lighter fluid and typewriter correction fluid) are primarily used as solvents, refrigerants, and propellants. They act as central nervous depressants, inducing a "high" similar to alcohol.

Volatile nitrites function as a vasodilator. They dilate blood vessels and increase heart rate. Butyl nitrite is marketed in room fresheners.

Anesthetic gases product the loss of sensations and possibly loss of consciousness that is required for some dental and surgical procedures. Nitrous oxide is also used as an aerosol propellant and flavoring agent for whipping cream.

Inhaling vapor's to alter one's state of mind dates back to the times of the ancient Greeks. In ancient Delphi, a priestess known as the pythoness' inhaled vapors from a rock crevice as a part of her priestly activities.

In the 1840's the effects of diethyl ether and nitrous oxide were demonstrated to the general public in "ether frolics" and "laughing gas demonstrations." Experience with these early agents led to their use as anesthetics, and the new branch of medicine known as "anesthesiology."

Evidence of inhalant abuse in the medical literature of the 1800's consists mainly of case reports. In 1849, Dr. Horace Wells died of chloroform abuse. He had introduced nitrous oxide and chloroform as dental and surgical anesthetics only five years before. A case of chloroform abuse in an adolescent was described in 1885.

In America, gasoline sniffing became popular among teenagers in the 1950's, primarily in rural areas where alcohol and other commonly used drugs were unavailable. Glue sniffing became widespread in California in the early 1960's. By 1965 glue sniffing was occurring in every state and in many foreign countries.

Inhalant abuse has experienced a steady increase in the United States, Mexico and Canada throughout the 1980's and early 1990's. Inhalant abusers begin using in early to middle adolescence. A significant minority continue into adulthood.

How are Inhalants Abused?

Inhalant abusers use many different methods to extract and ingest the desired ingredient. Some of these methods add to the danger of inhalant abuse. Glue sniffers often distribute the glue on the inside surface of a paper bag. Toluene and xylene, solvents commonly found in model airplane glue, disperse into the air inside the bag, and are inhaled or "huffed" by the abuser. A variation of this is to put the glue into a rag and inhale air through the rag. Both of these methods bring glue close to the mouth and nose of the sniffer. Sometimes a rash or a translucent white film of glue appears on the upper lip, cheeks or chin of a glue sniffer. However, this sign of glue sniffing does not always appear on inhalant abusers.

Pressurized gases such as nitrous oxide and butane are sometimes inhaled by the abuser inside a plastic bag over the head. Loss of oxygen can lead to unconsciousness and death.

Some abusers inhale gases directly from pressurized containers. When a gas suddenly has its pressure released, it becomes very cold. Inhalation directly from tanks can cause frozen tissue injury to the mouth and throat. Under certain circumstances, it may stop the heart.

The choice of substance seems to be primarily a matter of what inhalant is the least trouble to obtain and use: Substances that are easy to abuse, widely available and inexpensive (or easy to steal) are the preferred agents. When there is a choice, abusers tend to pick substance with a rapid onset of action.

By definition, the usual route of inhalant abuse is absorption through the lungs. However, some substances classified as inhalants have also been mixed into soft drinks and swallowed.