Addiction to inhalants may be less prevalent compared than some other types of drugs, but the possible risks of inhalant addiction should not be ignored. Once addiction sets in, recovery is difficult because inhalants are everywhere in so many household products. An inhalant addict may try to quit and relapse many times.

Addiction isn’t the only risk. Besides the addictive chemicals in inhalants are other toxic chemicals with their own risks, physical and psychological, even life-threatening.

Don’t feel so ashamed of your inhalant addiction that you won’t seek help for it. If you are ready to end your addiction, we are here to help.

Understanding inhalants

Inhalants are volatile chemical substances that evaporate at room temperature. The vapors in these household products can be used to experience euphoria, but usually short-lived compared to other types of drugs. Nevertheless, the use of inhalants can alter one’s mood, perception, and energy levels. The common way to take in this drug is through “huffing”.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse categorizes inhalants into four different general types: volatile substances, gases, nitrites, and aerosols. Some common types of inhalants that are abused include cleaning products and disinfectants such as aerosols and solvents; household or industrial items such as paint remover, paint thinner and gasoline; and art supplies such as markers, pens, and paint.

What is huffing?

Huffing is one way of breathing in the volatile chemicals found in common household cleaners to get high. Other methods are snorting, sniffing, inhaling, and bagging. Some names for this type of substance abuse include “laughing gas”, “huff”, or “hippie crack”.

Inhalant effects and abuse

Inhalant abuse may be difficult to spot since the effects of huffing inhalants are short-lived. It can be quite easy to hide an inhalant addiction due to the easy accessibility of the products that can cause an inhalant high, including nail polish, felt-tip markers, and cooking sprays.

Some signs of inhalant abuse common among those who have continually abused inhalants for an extended time include:

• Reddish eyes
• Runny nose
• Paint and stains on clothes
• Unusual smelling clothes or breath
• Lack of appetite
• Lethargy
• Anxiety and depression
• Sores on the mouth

If you or any of your loved ones show these symptoms, you may be at risk of experiencing other physical, mental, social, and emotional complications related to inhalant abuse.
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Inhalants: Physical effects

Inhalant abuse may cause physiological effects including:

• Blocked or runny nose. Continual huffing of inhalants exposes the nose to irritants that cause the nose to produce mucus as well as make the skin dry and cracked.
• Slurred speech. 
• Dizziness. Along with the desired pleasurable feelings, users may become dizzy, fatigued, or nauseated, depending on the potency of the inhalants.
• Mouth sores. Inhalants can irritate the mouth, causing producing whitish canker sores on the gums, tongue, or palate.

Inhalants: Psychological effects

Inhalants may also is associated with mental and emotional complications, including:

Inhalant abuse is often associated with:

• Anxiety. An overwhelming sense of discomfort or panic when the user doesn’t take a huff often enough may be a sign of withdrawal.
• Delusions. Short-term and long-term delusions during which the user cannot distinguish fantasy from reality are common for those who suffer from inhalant abuse.
• Loss of focus. Inhalants cause hallucinations, so they can warp a person’s alertness, resulting in a level of distraction that makes it impossible to perform even simple daily tasks.

Inhalants: Social effects

Individuals with any substance use disorder try to hide it, including inhalant abusers. This makes abuse hard to spot, especially if they are young adults living independently.

Some of the social impacts that inhalant addiction can bring are:

• Increased need for privacy: Addicts may be especially agitated about and protective of their privacy to conceal their substance use.
• Isolation: Inhalant abusers may be doubly ashamed: of their addiction and its oddness. Since this addiction is not as common or recognized as other drug types, they may fear seeming weird and become depressed.
• Lack of social acceptance: Even though drug use is sometimes romanticized as cool, inhalant use isn’t, and neither is addiction. Inhalant addicts may fear they will be or actually are ostracized by their peers.

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Dangers of Inhalants

Besides the short-lived effects of daily inhalant use, the toxic substances that often come with inhalants can pose a lot of dangers to the body, including:

• Heart failure. People who breathe inhalants may slowly poison their blood or experience heart failure due to hypoxia (lack of oxygen).
• Respiratory problems. Inhalants passing through the airways can cause infections leading to pneumonia, asthma, bronchitis, and even lung collapse.
• Brain damage. Toxins found in inhalants may cause degeneration of neurons, contributing to the development of Parkinson’s disease, memory disorders, and symptoms similar to multiple sclerosis.

Inhalant abuse statistics

According to 2015 statistics about inhalant abuse:

• A total of 2.6 million people in the US, ages 12-17, have used inhalants each year to get high.
• 1 out of 4 students in the US intentionally used inhalants to experience feelings of pleasure.
• Inhalants are likely to be the first types of drugs used by children.
• Children as young as 10 years old sniff and huff inhalants.
• 59% of children are aware of peers huffing inhalants by around 12 years of age.

Signs of inhalant abuse

Although inhalant abuse can be difficult to spot, some subtle signs can help you determine if addiction is present. An inhalant addict may exhibit some of these unusual signs suggesting a substance use problem:

Unusual purchases of household products. They purchase a large amount of these household items and try to hide them.

Household items quickly run out. Such items disappear or seem to be used up unusually fast. When asked about them, users make excuses or appear defensive.

 Gradual changes in appearance and behavior. They have such a lack of appetite that they become unusually thin. Their eyes are red, they complain of mouth sores, and they have trouble breathing. They appear paranoid and anxious.

If you notice any or all of these signs, you or a loved one may be suffering from an inhalant addiction.

Are inhalants addictive?

Though not as potent as other types of drugs, inhalants are addictive.

How long does chloroform take to work?

The time it takes chloroform to work and how it works depends on the dosage and how it is inhaled. Depending on its purity, chloroform can take up four minutes to take effect.

Those effects can include lethargy and disorientation in small amounts, no pain, and unconsciousness with a higher dose, and trouble breathing, paralysis of the chest muscles, and death at still higher doses.

However, to render someone unconscious like in the movies, even with pure chloroform, would take at least five minutes.
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Recognizing an inhalant addiction

Inhalant addiction is most prevalent in children, teens, and young adults. If you see these symptoms of inhalant abuse, act immediately to prevent further damage.

Take note of physical changes

Some of the specific physical signs of inhalant abuse are:

• Weight loss due to lack of appetite.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Bleeding gums, mouth sores, and oral discolorations.
• Feeling fatigued and dizzy most of the time.

Take note of behavioral changes.

Aside from physical changes, there are also internal behaviors that change when a person is addicted to inhalants, such as:

• Feeling “on edge” about trivial things.
• Sleeplessness.
• Easily irritated.
• Loss of interest in daily activities.

Take note of social changes

A person who is addicted to drugs may quickly change their social behavior to accommodate this new activity. They may:

• Refuse to go to social events.
• Find it difficult to interact with others as in the past.
• Need to be isolated most of the time.
• Appear secretive of their activities.

Treating an inhalant addiction

The first steps in treating inhalant addiction are acknowledging the problem and finding treatment. Treating an inhalant addiction typically involves one or more of the following: outpatient therapy, 12-step program, support groups or an inpatient rehabilitation program for severe addictions.

Some examples of inhalants treatment are:

Individual or group therapy. Speaking with a psychiatrist or psychologist, one-on-one or with fellow rehab clients, to learn accountability, uncover underlying causes such as mental illness, and learn new coping skills.

Family therapy.Minors in a rehabilitation setting may undergo therapy sessions with other family members.

Recreation therapy.Activities such as physical exercise, sports, hobbies, or joining events can help fill the void left by ending inhalant use.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy. Some addictions are rooted in underlying patterns associated with anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps in reducing unwanted thought patterns to battle inhalant addiction.

If you or a loved one are struggling with an inhalant addiction finding the right treatment center is imperative to your success. If you are ready to end your addiction, and you are looking for the best rehab center in Colorado, give us a call.

Finding Treatment for Inhalant Abuse in Colorado

If you or a loved one are struggling with an inhalant addiction, Mountain Springs Recovery Center in Colorado offers a variety of resources and programs tailored to your specific needs so you can live a happier, healthier, inhalant-free life.

If you are ready to start your path to recovery, call us to learn more about the life-saving resources and treatment programs Mountain Springs Recovery offers.