Cactus Village Community

The Truth About Inhalants . . . by CAO Karen Freund

Jul 08, 2003

The following information was excerpted from a brochure created by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. Hopefully you will never need this information!

The Facts: inhalants affect your brain. They are substances or fumes from products such as glue or paint thinner that are sniffed or "huffed" to cause an immediate high. They include a large group of chemicals found in such household products as aerosol sprays, cleaning fluids, gasoline, propane, nail polish remover, correction fluid, and marker pens. Inhalants affect your brain and can cause irreversible physical and mental damage. They affect your heart and can cause you to lose your sense of smell; experience nausea and nosebleeds; develop liver, lung and kidney problems. Chronic use can lead to muscle wasting and reduced muscle tone and strength. Inhalants can cause sudden death.
Users can die by suffocation, choking on their vomit, or having a heart attack. Inhalants can kill you the very first time you use them. Or the 10th, or the 100th. They can cause you to suddenly engage in violent, or even deadly behavior. You could hurt yourself or the people you love.

The Signs: Sometimes it?’s tough to tell but there are signs you can look for:

Slurred Speech
Drunk, dizzy or dazed appearance
Unusual breath odor
Chemical smell on clothing
Paint stains on body or face
Red eyes
Runny nose

What to do if you suspect someone you love is using inhalants: Encourage them to seek professional help! For information and referrals, call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration?’s National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information at 800-729-6686. . .☺