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Overview
The term "inhalants" refers to more than a thousand different household and commercial products that can be intentionally abused by sniffing or "huffing" (inhaling through one's mouth) for an intoxicating effect. These products are composed of volatile solvents and substances commonly found in commercial adhesives, lighter fluids, cleaning solutions, gasoline, paint, glue and paint products. Easy accessibility, low cost, and ease of concealment make inhalants, for many, one of the first substances abused.
Common modes of administration entail sniffing or huffing directly from the containers of products such as rubber cement or correction fluid, sniffing fumes from plastic bags over the head, or sniffing cloth saturated with the substance. The substance may also be inhaled directly from an aerosol can or out of alternative containers such as a balloon filled with nitrous oxide. Some volatile substances may release intoxicating vapors when heated.1
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Extent of Use
Typically, first use of inhalants occurs between late childhood and early adolescence. According to the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 23 million Americans ages 12 and older reported trying inhalants at least once during their lifetimes, representing 9.7% of the population ages 12 and older. Approximately 2.1 million (0.9%) reported past year inhalant use and 570,000 (0.2%) reported past month ("current") inhalant use. Additional survey results show that 1.3% of 12-17 year olds reported current inhalant use, compared to 0.4% of 18-25 year olds and 0.1% of those aged 26 and older.2
According to the Monitoring the Future Study, during 2003, 11.2% of 12th graders, 12.7% of 10th graders, and 15.8% of 8th graders have used an inhalant in their lifetime. During this same time period, 1.5% of seniors, 2.2% of 10th, and 4.1% of 8th graders had used inhalants in the past month.3
Percent of Students Reporting Inhalant Use, 2003
The Monitoring the Future Study also tracks trends in perceived risk and disapproval of use. In 2003, 8th and 10th graders were asked questions about the degree of risk they associate with inhalant use; 40.3% of 8th graders and 47.7% of 10th graders reported feeling that using inhalants once or twice was a "great risk." In addition, 67.4% of 8th graders and 72.2% of 10th graders reported that using inhalants regularly was a great risk.4
In 2003, 85.1% of the 8th graders and 89.8% of 10th graders disapproved of people who try inhalants once or twice. In addition, 87.7% of 8th graders and 91.0% of 10th graders disapproved of taking inhalants regularly.5
Among college students surveyed during 2003, 9.7% reported using inhalants during their lifetime and 0.4% reported using inhalants in the 30 days before being surveyed. Approximately 12.2%% of young adults between the ages of 19 and 28 reported using inhalants during their lifetime and 0.3% reported using inhalants in the 30 days before being surveyed.6
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), 12.1% of high school students surveyed nationwide had used an inhalant during their lifetime. Male students (12.6%) were more likely than female students (11.4%) to report lifetime inhalant use. Students in grade 9 (13.6%) were more likely than students in grades 10, 11, and 12 (11.1%, 11%, and 11.8%, respectively) to report lifetime inhalant use. Approximately 3.9% of high school students reported inhalant use within the 30 days preceding the survey.7
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Health Effects
While different in composition, most abused inhalants produce effects similar to anesthetics, which slow the body's functions. Inhalants cause intoxicating effects when administered via the nose or mouth into the lungs in sufficient quantities. If taken repeatedly, intoxication may last a few minutes or several hours. At first, users may feel slightly stimulated; with successive inhalations, they may feel less inhibited and less in control; finally, a user can lose consciousness.8
Sniffing highly concentrated amounts of the chemicals in solvents or aerosol sprays can cause heart failure or death, especially when abuse of fluorocarbons or butane-type gases is involved. Additionally, high concentrations of inhalants can lead to the displacement of oxygen in the lungs and central nervous system resulting in death by suffocation.9
Permanent effects caused by the use of inhalants include hearing loss, peripheral neuropathies or limb spasms, central nervous system or brain damage, and bone marrow damage. Additional serious side effects include liver and kidney damage as well as blood oxygen depletion.10
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Drug Episode: A drug-related
ED episode is an ED visit that
was induced by or related to the
use of drug(s).
Drug Mention: A drug mention
refers to a substance that was
recorded during an ED episode. Because up to 4 drugs can be reported for each drug abuse episode, there are more mentions than episodes.
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The number of emergency department (ED) mentions involving inhalants decreased from 1,141 mentions in 2000 to 522 mentions in 2001. During 2002, the number of inhalant ED mentions increased to 1,496. In 2002, the patients with the highest amount of mentions were the 26 to 34 age group, with 474 mentions followed by the 35 and older age group with 408 mentions. Male patients had a total of 944 mentions while females had 482 mentions in 2002.11
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Treatment
In 2002, there were 1,199 admissions to treatment facilities in which inhalants were the primary substance of abuse, accounting for approximately 0.1% of all admissions. Inhalant admissions were primarily male (72%), white (69.5%), and young (approximately 46% of inhalant admissions were under 20 years old). Those admitted to treatment for primary inhalant use began use at an early age—26.6% used inhalants by age 12, and another 28.4% used inhalants by age 14.12
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Arrests & Sentencing
According to the 1997 Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) Survey of Inmates in Adult State and Federal Correctional Facilities, 7.7% of Federal prisoners had tried inhalants in their lifetimes, 2.6% reported using inhalants regularly, and 0.5% reported using inhalants in the month before committing their offense. Among State prisoners, 14.4% had tried inhalants in their lifetimes, 5.4% reported using inhalants regularly, and 1% reported using inhalants in the month before committing their offense.13
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Legislation
Although not regulated under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), many State legislatures have attempted to deter youth who buy legal products to get high by placing restrictions on the sale of these products to minors. As reported by the National Conference of State Legislatures, by 2000, 38 States had adopted laws preventing the sale, use, and/or distribution to minors of various products commonly abused as inhalants. Some States have introduced fines, incarceration, or mandatory treatment for the sale, distribution, use, and/or possession of inhalable chemicals.14
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Street Terms15
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Other Links
National Inhalant Prevention Coalition
NIPC is a public-private effort to promote awareness and recognition of the under publicized problem of inhalant use.
Inhalant Abuse
This site provides parents with information on the dangers of inhalant abuse, tips for talking to kids, and other resources.
Inhalants in Your Home
The AntiDrug.Com provides information for parents, including an interactive guide that shows were inhalants are in the home.
Inhalants Fact Sheet
This fact sheet provides an overview of inhalant abuse, effects, treatment, legislation, and street terms.
Inhalants Publications
A listing of inhalants-related publications from various sources.
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Sources
1 National Drug Intelligence Center, Huffing: The Abuse of Inhalants, November 2001
2 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Results from the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings, September 2004
3 National Institute on Drug Abuse and University of Michigan, Monitoring the Future: Overview of Key Findings, 2003 (PDF), June 2004.
4 Ibid.
5 Ibid.
6 National Institute on Drug Abuse and University of Michigan, Monitoring the Future National Survey Results on Drug Use, 1975—2003, Volume II: College Students & Adults Ages 19—45 (PDF), 2004
7 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States, 2003, May 2004
8 National Institute on Drug Abuse, Inhalants Infofax, November 4, 2002
9 Ibid.
10 Ibid.
11 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Emergency Department Trends from the Drug Abuse Warning Network, Final Estimates 1995–2002, July 2003
12 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) Highlights—2002 (PDF), May 2004
13 Bureau of Justice Statistics, Substance Abuse and Treatment of State and Federal Prisoners, 1997, January 1999
14 National Conference of State Legislatures. Unpublished information on inhalant legislation through June 2000.
15 Office of National Drug Control Policy, Drug Policy Information Clearinghouse, Street Terms: Drugs and the Drug Trade
Inhalants section
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Last Updated: September 21, 2004
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