Inhalant abuse happens when someone starts inhaling or ‘sniffing’ chemical vapors of common products to get strongly pleasant feelings of wellbeing and euphoria.
The habit called inhalant addiction is deadly. You may feel one whiff that will help you to get ‘high’ won’t harm you, but it will! It is a killer that causes ‘sudden’ death and can even kill those who sniff it for the very first time!
‘Teen’ Killer
Most deaths occurring from inhalant abuse are of young people, especially teens. Actually, inhalants are easily available since they are found in common household products too. This makes it really easy for young people to sniff the vapors in order to feel euphoric. Sadly, the effects of this addiction are really scary since they have very scary consequences.
If you are an addict of inhalants, you may suffer from:
- Loss of muscle control
- Permanent brain damage
- Damage to your blood, liver, heart, bone marrow, and kidneys
Not a promising scenario, eh? Get rid of your addiction and check into a center for drug rehab in Delaware today!
Why do youngsters start sniffing?
There are a couple of reasons for this:
- Peer pressure
- Low self-esteem
- They feel these substances are not harmful
At ease with this misconception, most of them start sniffing quite early, sometimes in grade school itself!
The issue is this habit is extremely strong – most sniffers find it very tough to stop and some move on to hard drugs eventually. You must call a drug addiction hotline for help if you suspect a loved one is sniffing and behaving erratically.
Effects of inhalant abuse
These are truly nasty. Within 15 minutes and more of sniffing, users feel sick and nauseated. They find themselves becoming more and more forgetful. Some are unable to see properly. Some lose control of their arms and legs.
As if this was not enough, there is a phenomenon called ‘Sudden Sniffing Death’ – which happens either during or just after sniffing. It can happen to even first-time users. Basically the sniffing leads to the uneven overworking of the heart, which causes cardiac arrest.
Common products used
Even simple household products can be abused for the purpose of inhalation. These can be:
- glues/adhesives
- nail polish remover
- paint thinner
- spray paint
- gasoline
- household cleaners
- deodorants
- whipping cream aerosols
Experts say that more than 1,000 different products are commonly abused!
Signs of inhalant abuse
There are several signs you can look for if you feel a loved one is sniffing. Here are a few of them:
- Their speech is slurred.
- They appear disoriented, as if they are either drunk or dizzy.
- They smell of chemicals and their breath has an unusual odor.
- They have runny or red eyes/nose.
- They have nausea and appetite loss.
- They have sores or spots around the mouth.
Chronic users have symptoms such as restlessness, irritability, and anxiety. It is vital that such abusers are taken in for a drug detox program straight away so that they can kick this habit once and for all.