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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (June 6, 2013)
10 vernonia prevention coalition june6 2013 The content on this page is provided by the Vernonia Prevention Coalition Be a Piece of the Puzzle ~ The Science of Drugs: Inhalants Most people think harmful drugs are only found on street corners or in local pharmacies, not cleaning cabinets or garages. But sometimes items commonly found in millions of homes aren’t used for their intended purposes such as permanent markers or compressed air. Some people inhale the chemical vapors produced by common household substances — known as inhalants — to get high. What many of them don’t realize is how dangerous this really is. know about the types of inhalants: • Volatile solvents are liquids that become a gas at room temperature. Some examples are paint thinners and removers, gasoline, glues, and felt-tip marker fluids. • Gases include medical gases (ether, nitrous oxide) and household or commercial products (butane lighters, propane tanks, whipped cream dispensers that contain nitrous oxide, and refrigerants). • Aerosol sprays are some of the most prevalent inhalants in the home and include spray paint, deodorant and hairsprays, vegetable oil cooking sprays, and static cling sprays. • Nitrites include cyclohexyl nitrite, amyl nitrite, and butyl nitrite. On the street, they’re called “poppers” or “snappers.” They’re found in some room deodorizers and capsules that release vapors when opened. Why People Use Inhalants Inhalants might seem like an alternative to other mood-altering drugs because they are cheap, can be purchased legally, and are easy to obtain. But that doesn’t make them safer. When used as directed, household products are safe for cleaning, painting, and the other things they’re meant to do. But as inhalants, Effects on the Body they can be deadlier than street drugs. People inhale chemical vapors in several ways, including sniffing, How Are They Used snorting, or spraying the inhalant These products are sniffed, directly into the nose or mouth, putting snorted, bagged (fumes inhaled from it into a bag or other container and then a plastic bag), or “huffed” (inhalant- inhaling from there, putting the vapor soaked rag, sock, or roll of toilet onto a rag, or inhaling nitrous oxide paper in the mouth) to achieve a high. from balloons. Because the high from Inhalants are also sniffed directly from inhalants only lasts a few minutes, some the container. people may inhale over and over again for long periods of time to maintain the Different Kinds of Inhalants high, increasing the amount of dangerous There are four main types chemicals entering and damaging the of inhalants: volatile solvents, gases, body. aerosols, and nitrites. Volatile solvents, Inhalants can cause many gases, and aerosols can alter moods changes in the body. Once the vapors and create a high. Nitrites are believed enter the body, some are absorbed by to create sexual stimulation and parts of the brain and nervous system. enhancement. All of the inhalants (except nitrites) Here is what else you need to slow down the body’s functions, similar to the effects of drinking alcohol. At first someone gets excited, but then gets tired, has trouble speaking clearly or walking well, gets dizzy, loses inhibitions, and may get agitated. It can sometimes take up to 2 weeks for the chemical to completely pass from the body. Other short-term effects of inhaling chemicals include: • increased heart rate • hallucinations or delusions • losing feeling or consciousness • nausea and vomiting • loss of coordination • slurred speech oxygen in the lungs so that a person stops breathing. • Choking — A user can choke on his or her vomit. • Suffocation — When vapors are inhaled from a plastic bag placed over the head, the bag can block air from entering the lungs. • Injuries — Since people high on inhalants often make poor decisions, they might try to drive under the influence or do something irrational, such as jump off a roof. They could also get burned or start explosions if a spark ignites flammable inhalants. • Suicide — Some people become Because inhalants are found in depressed when their high wears off. most homes, people don’t realize they are incredibly addictive. People who Signs of Inhalant Abuse become addicted to using inhalants Inhalants, like other drugs, have are likely to become long-term users. noticeable effects on those using them. This puts them at risk for these health Someone on inhalants may suffer from a problems: number of different ill effects, including: • brain damage (toxic chemicals may • mood swings make people become slow or clumsy, • extreme anger, agitation, and irritability have trouble solving problems or • exhaustion planning ahead, suffer from memory • loss of appetite loss, or become unable to learn new • frequent vomiting things) • hallucinations and illusions • muscle weakness • facial rashes and blisters • depression • frequent runny nose and cough • headaches and nosebleeds • dilated pupils • loss of sense of smell or hearing • glazed or watery eyes • extremely bad breath Nitrites work differently. Instead of slowing down the brain and the spinal Of course, some of these things cord, they increase the size of blood are signs of other health problems, not vessels and relax the muscles. necessarily inhalant use. But an even greater factor is why individuals use How Inhalants Kill inhalant to get high. The common Like most street drugs, inhalants misconception by people is that these can be deadly. Someone can die from are “safer” due to their not being illegal. abusing inhalants after trying it only Unfortunately, what is seen as a “thing once. Causes of death include: that kids do” can turn into a pattern • “Sudden Sniffing Death” — This is of practice that leads into the abuse of the most common cause of death from other drugs: over the counter, illegal or inhalant use. The heart beats quickly prescription. and irregularly, and then suddenly stops (cardiac arrest). This can happen even Resources: the first time a person tries an inhalant http://teenshealth.org/teen/ and is experimenting. http://www.drugfree.org/ • Asphyxia — Toxic fumes replace Spencer Health and Wellness School Based Health Center open Tuesdays and Fridays from 7:30 AM - 1:30 PM
