The dangerous effects hang around a lot longer than the short high.
Problems
Substance Abuse / inhalants
Who'd a thought?
It's hard to imagine your local grocery, craft, and hardware store selling products that could potentially be used as drugs. Most of these products are in your own home! Yet, it's true. Our youth is finding new ways of getting high, by inhaling the fumes of products. According to NIDA:
- 3% of children try inhalants by the 4th grade
- Inhalant abuse reaches a peak between grades 7 and 9
What kind of inhalants are out there?
- Volatile substances
These are liquids that vaporize at room temperature and would include: paint thinners, dry-cleaning fluids, gasoline, glues, felt-tip markers, and more. - Aerosols
These are sprays containing propellants and solvents and would include: spray paint, deodorant, hair spray, your kitchen vegetable oil, and more. - Gases
Gases are used for medical anesthetics, but they are also in household and commercial items. Nitrous oxide, or “laughing gas”, is the most abused inhalant and can be found in a common whipped cream dispenser. Other inhalants are in butane lighters, propane tanks, and refrigerants. - Nitrites
These are commonly referred to as “poppers” and “snappers” because of the sound they make when they are popped from their capsules, which is how nitrites are usually sold. However, nitrites can also be found in things like room deodorizers. While most inhalants alter mood, nitrites are primarily used as sexual enhancers.
What are the effects?
Like all drugs, inhalants are disgusting when it comes to how they are used. A user will get their high by “sniffing” container fumes or even spraying aerosols directly into their nose or mouth. They will inhale from a bag, called “bagging,” or a soaked rag stuffed into their mouth, called “huffing.”
Short-term effects
- slurred speech
- loss of coordination
- euphoria and excited
- dizziness
- lightheaded
- hallucinations
Long-term effects
- weight loss
- muscle weakness
- disorientation
- inattentiveness
- depression
- irritability
But that's nothing! Look at these deadly effects:
- Suffocation
- Seizures
- Coma
- Choking
- Fatal injury from accidents while intoxicated
- Damage to the brain, central nervous system, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys
- Suicide from the depression caused by “coming down”
- Engaging in violent and even deadly behaviors putting you at risk
Understand this
Inhalants are addictive, and it is a drug that kids can easily start at a young age. Over time, inhalants will ruin your child's life and potentially put others at risk.
Inhalants can kill after a first time use. There is no set number for when these dangers will start occurring; but I want you to set a number—zero. Your child should never be using.
