Inhalant Addiction And Abuse
Inhalant abuse includes sniffing or huffing vapors from common toxic chemical agents to get high.
Author Kristen Fuller, MD
Are Inhalants Addictive?
Yes, it is possible to become addicted to abusing inhalants. Inhalant abuse, also called volatile substance abuse, sniffing, huffing, or bagging, is the intentional act of inhaling a volatile substance (vapors) from commercial, household, or specific chemical agents (such as lighter fluid, glue, and hairspray) to achieve intoxication.
Inhalants are most commonly misused and abused by school-aged children ages 12-17 and can have similar effects to alcohol. Statistics from 2011 showed that more than 22 million Americans aged 12 and older had used inhalants; however, the rate of inhalant use has generally declined over the past two decades. In 2023, fewer than 1% of people aged 12 or older reported using inhalants in the past year. Most cases of inhalant misuse and addiction occur in more isolated regions of the U.S., as they mostly affect marginalized populations.
Still, inhalants do have addictive qualities, and the danger of an inhalant addiction shouldn’t be overlooked. It is still a severe problem with harmful mental and physical effects.
What Are Inhalants?
Inhalants are volatile, often flammable substances that vaporize at room temperature. They produce short-lived, mind-altering effects that can be similar to alcohol’s effects.
Inhalants encompass a wide variety of chemicals and anesthetics categorized together based on their method of administration: inhalation. These substances are often referred to as:
- Whippits
- Laughing gas
- Huff
- Hippie crack
Users may inhale vapors directly from the container, from a bag containing the inhalant, or from a rag soaked with the inhalant and placed over the mouth or nose. People may also inhale the substance out of a plastic or paper bag or inhale gas from balloons.
Those with an inhalant addiction may heat these substances before inhaling them to intensify the effects.
Types Of Inhalants
Inhalant addiction and abuse include the misuse of household solvents, gases, and anesthetics. Household inhalants can be anything from cleaning products and nail polish to gasoline and whipped cream canisters.
Anesthetics are gases used to reduce sensitivity to pain. Nitrous oxide and chloroform are some well-known anesthetics. Nitrous oxide, also known as “laughing gas,” is commonly used by dentists. This gas is also used in cans of whipped cream, which is where most users get it.
Amyl nitrite is also a popular inhalant that has been used to increase blood flow in people with heart disease. Nitrites are often placed in their own class of inhalants because they primarily relax muscles, unlike the effects of other inhalants. Other classes and types of inhalants include:
Solvents
- Paint thinners
- Dry cleaning fluids
- Gasoline
- Lighter fluid
- Correction fluids (such as Wite Out)
- Felt-tip marker fluid
- Electronic contact cleaners
- Glue
- Nail polish
- Nail polish remover
Aerosols
- Spray paint
- Hair spray
- Deodorant spray
- Aerosol computer cleaning products
- Vegetable oil sprays
Gases
- Butane lighters
- Propane tanks
- Whipped cream dispensers
- Ether
- Chloroform
- Nitrous oxide
- Freon
Nitrites
- Video head cleaner
- Room deodorizer
- Leather cleaner
- Liquid aroma
Care That's Covered by Insurance
Explore rehabs that accept your insurance today! Start your recovery journey with peace of mind, knowing your care is covered.
Addiction Center is not affiliated with any insurance.
What Are The Effects Of Inhalants?
Inhalant intoxication has been compared to alcohol intoxication due to their similar effects, such as impaired judgment or motor function. However, unlike alcohol, inhalants can cause a temporary hallucinatory state and only last a few minutes.
Common effects of inhalants include:
- Excitability
- Euphoria
- Lethargy
- Hallucinations
- Loss of self-control
- Lightheadedness
- Dizziness
- Slowed reflexes
- Loss of coordination
- Blacking out
- Slurred or distorted speech
- Generalized muscle weakness
- Blurred vision
- Stupor
- Involuntary eye movement
- Slowed thinking movements
What Are The Long-Term Effects Of Inhalant Abuse?
Chronic inhalant misuse or abuse has been shown to have irreversible long-term effects on multiple organs in the body. Inhalants can injure the brainstem, leading to tremors, ataxia, slurred speech, vision problems, and hearing loss. The long-term effects of inhalant abuse can result in impaired learning, memory, and attention.
Additional long-term effects include:
- Liver and kidney damage
- Cardiomyopathy and electrocardiographic changes
- Impaired learning, memory, and attention
- Mental health disorders (depression and anxiety)
- Pulmonary and breathing injury
- Bone marrow damage resulting in immune impairment
- Loss of coordination and limb spasms
Dangers Of Inhalants
Inhalant misuse and abuse can not only result in dangerous short-term and long-term effects on the brain and the body, but they can also result in fatal overdose. Fatal overdose associated with inhalants is known as “sudden sniffing death” and occurs due to catastrophic ventricular cardiac arrhythmias from the lack of oxygen reaching the heart.
Sudden sniffing death can happen to first-time inhalant misusers or to chronic inhalant abusers. It most commonly occurs when specific inhalants, such as air conditioner coolants, butane, propane, and aerosol products, are misused.
Other dangers of inhalants include:
- Chemical and thermal burns
- Inhalant withdrawal symptoms
- Death via suffocation, asphyxiation, or choking
How Do You Help Someone With An Inhalant Addiction?
Inhalant addiction is a serious disorder that can cause permanent brain damage in a short period of time. Most individuals who have an inhalant addiction need professional addiction treatment.
Both inpatient and outpatient treatment options are available for people suffering from an addiction to inhalants. People experiencing cognitive decline or neurological dysfunction that does not improve after several months of inhalant addiction treatment may need to seek additional neuropsychological treatment. Specific tests can help substance use and mental health providers determine more intensive treatment.
Inhalants are some of the substances of abuse most detrimental to a person’s health. If you or someone you know has an inhalant addiction, find a treatment center using our rehab directory today. You can filter by location, age group, and insurance to find a rehab that meets your needs.
What To Do If You Have An Inhalant Addiction
The first step to seeking treatment for your inhalant addiction is recognizing the signs and symptoms associated with an addiction, as inhalant addiction is defined as the inability to cut down or stop using inhalants despite the negative effects they are causing in multiple aspects of your life, including your personal life, home life, and professional life.
If you have an inhalant addiction, seeking treatment in a professional addiction treatment program can help you cope with any potential withdrawal symptoms and manage future cravings while learning healthy life coping skills. Treatment can occur in a variety of settings depending on the severity of your addiction, your insurance status, your social support structure, and your home life. From outpatient care to inpatient treatment, regardless of the setting, the goal is to obtain strict abstinence from inhalant use.
Explore These Featured Centers
How Do You Find A Treatment Center For Inhalant Addiction?
Getting started with treatment involves contacting a local drug and alcohol treatment center or provider who can provide a comprehensive assessment, which will determine which type of inhalant addiction treatment will benefit you the most.
If you’d like to further explore and discuss your treatment options, visit our rehab directory or contact a treatment provider today to learn more about your treatment options.
