Inhalant Addiction

Inhalants are chemical vapours or gases that produce a ‘high’ when they are breathed in. This includes ‘volatile solvents, aerosols, gases and nitrates.’ These substances are often common cleaning materials or workplace products that can be accessed relatively easily.

Inhalants are usually, as the name suggests, inhaled. Because these substances enter the bloodstream quite quickly, the highs that they induce are quite fast-acting. Inhaling drugs is also referred to with a range of colloquialisms, such as ‘bagging’, ‘huffing’, and ‘snorting.’ This type of ‘quick intoxication’ is often quite desirable to younger people, leading to inhalant use being particularly prevalent amongst older children, teenagers and young adults.

While many different products that you find around the house, in the supermarket, or in the workplace may be used as an inhalant, they do come with a list of potent harms. These drugs are typically understood as existing within three categories:

1. Volatile solvents
2. Inorganic anaesthetic gases
3. Volatile alkyl nitrites

Volatile Solvents

Volatile solvents are liquids that quickly evaporate into gas. Volatile solvents can be found in lots of different materials, such as:

• Lighter fluid
• Bottled fuel
• Hair spray
• Spray paint
• Deodorants
• Room fresheners
• Cooking oil sprays
• Gasoline
• Cleaning products

Anaesthetic Gases

Inhalant anaesthetics are gases that, when breathed in, can have some level of sedative quality. Examples of these include:

• Chloroform
• Nitrous oxide
• Halothane
• Isoflurane
• Desflurane
• Sevoflurane

These can be found in various products, such as:

• Whipped cream cans
• Propane tanks
• Butane lighters

Volatile Alkyl Nitrites

Nitrites are thought to be a ‘special’ kind of inhalant. This is because they do not act like anaesthetic gases and volatile solvents (by directly impacting the central nervous system). Instead, they act on the body to relax muscles. Nitrates can be found in:

• Air freshener
• Electronics cleaner
• Cyanide poisoning antidote
• Medicines for heart pain
• Leather cleaner
• Liquid incense
• Nail polish remover
• Cosmetics [12]

Inhalants are often used due to their very quick high. This high can feel quite like being drunk on alcohol. Whilst people often use these drugs to achieve their intoxicating effects, inhalant use is very potent and carries lots of risks.

Short-Term Effects of Inhalant Use

• Feeling ‘drunk’
• Reduced inhibitions
• Feeling excited or euphoric
• Feeling lethargic
• Light-headedness
• Loss of sensation
• Loss of consciousness
• Impaired cognition
• Feeling or being sick
• Confusion
• Dizziness and disorientation
• Slurred speech
• Reduced reflexes
• Weakness
• Headaches
• Lack of coordination
• Dilated blood vessels
• Increases heart rate
• Feeling hot

All of these symptoms suggest a high potential of losing control or, even more seriously, losing consciousness. This can make using these substances in public dangerous, as it could leave you open to violence or other forms of abuse. Taking these substances when alone is also a risk, as you may potentially lose the ability to control your movements or blackout.

Long-Term Effects of Inhalant Use

• Ulcers in the nose and mouth
• Frequent nosebleeds
• Runny nose
• Reduced appetite
• Weight loss
• Cognitive impairments
• Memory issues
• Lethargy
• Apathy
• Low mood
• Paranoia
• Blunted affect

Heavy use comes with the risk of developing psychological conditions such as:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Inhalant induced psychotic
• Neurocognitive disorders
• Inhalant intoxication delirium

It can also lead to the following physical health problems:

• Asthma
• Damage to the lungs
• Sinusitis
• Bronchitis
• Tuberculosis
• Multi-organ damage
• Sudden death

This kind of drug use can also have teratogenic effects, meaning it can cause changes to a foetus when used during pregnancy.

Inhalant Withdrawal Effects

If you stop using inhalants suddenly, you may experience some uncomfortable side effects. These are known as withdrawal symptoms. They may include:

• Nausea
• Sickness
• Sweating
• Tremors and shakes
• Seizures
• Difficulty sleeping
• Psychosis
• Diaphoresis (excessive sweating)
• Tachycardia (increased heart rate)

The prevalence of this type of drug use amongst young people makes it very important to be aware of the signs. Symptoms of inhalant addiction you can look out for include:

• Smelling a chemical scent on the breath or clothes
• Paint or other mysterious stains on clothes and hands
• Frequently sniffing or experiencing nosebleeds
• Ulcers or sores around the nose and mouth
• A change in mood
• Unpredictable mood swings
• A change in social circle
• Trouble at school
• Conflict at home
• Change in sleep schedule
• Change in eating habits
• Weight loss
• Appearing to be ‘absent’ or unfocused

If you are concerned that your inhalant use is spiralling out of control, then the best thing to do is to speak to someone that you trust. This could involve contacting:

• friends and family
• a primary care clinician or psychiatrist
• a support group
• a mental health charity (such as Mind)
• a crisis line (such as Samaritans)
• a mental health treatment facility
• a specialist rehab service

Inhalants Detox

There are hundreds of types of inhalants. Some of these substances are highly addictive. This can mean that to curb an inhalant addiction, a full detox is required. Whilst this may feel uncomfortable at first, this detox phase acts to break the cycle of cravings that can lead to repeat use, hopefully providing the physical stability needed to move towards psychological treatment in rehab.

Inhalants Rehab

At specialist rehab centres such as Oasis Recovery, we offer a range of therapeutic interventions that can help you to combat the psychological side of addiction. This could potentially mean engaging with any of the following therapies during your rehab programme:

• 1-1 therapy
• Addiction counselling
• Cognitive behavioural therapy
• Dialectical behavioural therapy
• Motivational interventions
• Group therapy
• Family therapy
• Art therapy
• Mindfulness
• Meditation and yoga
• Support groups

Addiction is a hard journey, but you don’t have to go through it alone. If you have a dual diagnosis, we can help you overcome your addiction. Reach out to us today to start your recovery journey. At UKAT, we believe everyone deserves stable mental health and a future free from substance use. Our expert team is ready to support you in taking that first step.