Transcript Inhalants - Indiana Prevention Resource Center

How Youth Can Get High Legally and Without Cost
By: Jon Agley, M.P.H.
By the end of this presentation:
you will have…
(1) Been exposed to general information about
Inhalants.
(2) Learned some basic facts about Inhalant users in
Indiana.
(3) Viewed the potential consequences of Inhalant
use, both short-term and long-term.
(4) Learned how to begin to help someone who you
think may be addicted.
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Inhalants don’t get a lot of attention.
But…
In the 1990s, they were the second most
commonly-used illicit drug among
12- 17-year olds.
(Brouette & Anton, 2001).
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Between 1996 and 1999, 240 deaths in the United
States were attributed to inhalant use.
(Brouette & Anton, 2001).
I present these data not to be “frightening,” but to
emphasize that sniffing glue, “white-out,” gas, or any
similar substance is not a game, nor is it harmless.
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“Inhalants” is the name given to a range of
common household solvent products such as:
Glue
Computer
Cleaner
Gasoline
Markers
Hair Spray
Aerosol Cans
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“Inhalants” also refers to gases such as:
Butane
Helium
Freon
Propane
Nitrous Oxide
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The name “Inhalants” comes from
the fact that these items are usually
abused by sniffing or inhaling fumes.
Almost every form of Inhalant can be
purchased legally.
There are thousands of different inhalants!
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Typical street names include:
Huff
Highball
Dust
Bang
Kick
Moon Gas
Poor Man’s Pot
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Common paraphernalia: Not
always present during Inhalant abuse.
Socks
Balloons
Paper Bags
Rags
It is important to realize that most
Inhalant use is not detectable by means
of traditional drug tests.
Someone who is addicted to “getting high”
and whose parents or peers are actively
preventing other illegal substance abuse
might turn to Inhalants because the products
are:
small
easily concealed
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For both male and female adolescents,
depression is significantly correlated with
inhalant use (Kubik et al., 2003).
This means:
Youth who are depressed might turn to
inhalant use.
Inhalant use itself might cause depression.
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Physical signs of inhalant use include:
Paint or stains on the body or clothing.
Spots, sores, or rashes around the mouth/nose.
Drunk/dazed/dizzy appearance without
another explanation.
Hidden, unexplainable, inhalant products.
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There is no known age group
that is not at risk for Inhalant abuse.
However, Inhalant abusers are…
- More likely to be between ages 12 and 17.
- More likely to be white/non-Hispanic.
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3.1% of Indiana students between
grades 6 and 12 reported abusing
Inhalants on a monthly basis in 2003.
Among severely addicted drug users,
Inhalant use usually began 6 months
before marijuana use.
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No study has found conclusive
proof about Inhalants’ status as a
gateway drug as of this point in time.
The fact that addicts report Inhalant use near
the beginning of their life-long drug addictions
is a definite warning sign.
In other words, not only can Inhalants be used
as a supplement for other drug use…
Inhalants also have the potential to encourage users
to explore other means of achieving a high.
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According to the 2005 Alcohol,
Tobacco, and Other Drug Use Survey:
“Inhalant use warrants watching as it may
have serious and immediate health
consequences, even for first time users.”
Yes, Inhalant use is a problem.
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Nausea
Unconsciousness
Short-term High
Vomiting
Seizures
Loss of Inhibition
Slurred Speech
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Much More Dangerous Effects Include:
Brain Damage
Prolonged Nausea
Lack of Appetite Liver Damage
Kidney Damage
Irritability
Damage to Immune System
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Yes
In extreme cases…
The irregular heart rate resulting from
Inhalant use can be fatal. This is called
Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome (SSDS).
Abuse of Nitrous Oxide can also be fatal
due to a lack of Oxygen flow to the brain.
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Be A Friend:
Ridding the body of the poison
(Detoxification) often takes up to a month, so
it is important to help with abstinence efforts
in order to prevent a relapse.
A shift in social circles is important,
since Inhalant abuse is often associated
with peer groups.
Call the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition
at: 800-269-4237.
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Just because possession
of commonly inhaled
substances is not illegal
does not mean that they
are not harmful!
According to the National
Inhalant Prevention
Coalition:
It is extremely important to
avoid exciting or stressing
people who have recently
huffed; this can lead to
SSDS.
The Indiana Prevention Resource Center’s Survey on Alcohol,
Tobacco, and Other Drug Use by Indiana Children and
Adolescents; Data from 1996-2005.
http://www.drugs.indiana.edu/survey/atod/index.html
The National Inhalant Prevention Coalition
http://www.inhalants.org
The National Institute on Drug Abuse
www.nida.nih.gov/
Contact us
Indiana Prevention Resource Center
2735 East 10th Street, CA110
Bloomington, IN 47408-2602
Phone: 1-800-346-3077 or 812-855-1237
Fax: 812-855-4940
E-mail: [email protected]
http://www.drugs.indiana.edu
Content in this presentation based, in part, on a Factline produced by Matthew Lee Smith, MPH, and Jonathan Agley, BA, in 2004
and © The Indiana Prevention Resource Center.
The Indiana Prevention Resource Center is funded, in part, by a contract with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration,
Division of Mental Health and Addiction, financially supported through HHS/Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration,
Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant. The IPRC is operated by the Indiana
University Department of Applied Health Science and School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. It is affiliated with the
Department's Institute of Drug Abuse Prevention. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the
Trustees of Indiana University or the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration. Indiana University accepts full responsibility for
the content of this publication. © Copyright, 2005 by the Trustees of Indiana University.
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