People often misuse easy-to-access substances as a way to cope with emotional distress or other issues affecting their mental or physical health. Some individuals diagnosed with substance use disorder (SUD) have a history of misusing inhalants. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “Among people aged 12 or older in 2021, 0.8% (or about 2.2 million people) reported using inhalants in the past 12 months.” Exclusive Hawaii Rehab™ uses evidence-based and alternative holistic therapies to treat the use of inhalants and other forms of SUD.
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What Are Inhalants?
Inhalants are substances some people use to experience a “high.” According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), “Inhalants are invisible, volatile substances found in common household products that produce chemical vapors that are inhaled to induce psychoactive or mind-altering effects.” People abuse four primary types of inhalants: aerosols and aerosol sprays, volatile solvents, nitrates, and gases.
Everyday household items misused as inhalants include:
Abusing these substances, known as huffing, has a significant negative impact on mental and physical health. While inhalant users often use household sources, others may look for dedicated illicit substances. These often take the form of nitrites, also known as “poppers” or “snappers.” This kind of drug use can also be known as “bagging,” trapping the chemical gases in a plastic bag to be inhaled directly. However, this method can be hazardous, potentially leading to suffocation when using inhalants.
The immediate effects of inhalants on the central nervous system are very similar to alcohol and include slurred speech, coordination impairment, difficulty focusing, headache, and dizziness. Inhalants are incredibly dangerous due to the potential for severe physical side effects and their accessibility, especially among young people or adolescents experimenting with drug use for the first time.
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The Impact of Inhalants on Cognitive Health
Inhalants create a temporary “high” by affecting brain function. According to NIDA, “Many inhalants affect the brain in ways similar to depressants like tranquilizers, sedatives, or alcohol, although the effects are usually shorter-lasting.”
Some of the known side effects of inhalant intoxication include:
Chronic abuse of certain inhalants has the potential to cause permanent brain damage and addiction. Hypoxia, or lack of oxygen, is one of the most common causes of brain damage in individuals who misuse inhalants. The hippocampus, a region of the brain affecting learning, memory, and emotion regulation, is the area most often affected by inhalant-related hypoxia, leading to lasting effects.
Despite these effects, inhalant abuse can lead to cravings, making it difficult to stop using or using inhalants again despite negative consequences.
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Long-Term Health Effects of Misusing Inhalants
Short-term effects of inhalant abuse impact how the brain communicates with various body systems. Common short-term side effects include slurred speech, confusion, tremors, and muscle weakness. Chronic inhalant abuse leads to more severe and long-lasting or permanent health issues, including:
According to Addiction Science and Clinical Practice, “Inhalant use can result in chemical and thermal burns, inhalant withdrawal symptoms, persistent mental illness, and catastrophic medical emergencies such as ventricular arrhythmias leading to ‘sudden sniffing death.’” Younger individuals are more likely to misuse inhalants due to their easy accessibility. Adolescents and young adults are often unaware of the significant health dangers associated with inhalant abuse.
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Signs and Symptoms of Inhalant Abuse
The signs and symptoms of inhalant abuse exist along a spectrum and may vary significantly from person to person. However, the most common signs of inhalant abuse include:
People who misuse inhalants may begin to hoard certain products or substances in their rooms. An increase in chemical smells or accumulation of chemical products may indicate someone is misusing inhalants. A clinical assessment is necessary to diagnose someone with SUD, and talking to a health care provider at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab™ can help individuals and loved ones explore the possibility of inhalant addiction and potential inpatient treatment options.
Treatment Options at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab™
Exclusive Hawaii Rehab™ uses behavior modification, psychotherapy, and other evidence-based methodologies to help clients recover and develop essential coping skills, working to create lasting change. Each of our programs is designed to address more than a collection of symptoms, instead targeting the lifestyles and factors that led to addiction to develop practical skills for a sustained sober life.
Some of the treatment options available to clients include:
Clinicians use a whole-person approach to treatment, reducing the adverse effects of inhalant abuse. According to the Permanente Journal, “The treatment of inhalant use disorder is similar to that of other substance abuse disorders and includes supportive care, pharmacotherapy, and behavioral therapy.” Prevention education is also an essential part of treatment for inhalant abuse for both those in recovery and family members or loved ones.
Addressing Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorders
Many people who misuse inhalants have co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders.
Some of the most common co-occurring disorders include:
In some cases, people use inhalants as a way to self-medicate and reduce the effects of mental health symptoms. Unfortunately, inhalant abuse only compounds issues related to mental health. Treating both inhalant use and underlying mental health disorders in tandem is necessary to explore their relationship while engaging in effective, personalized healing from both, improving relapse prevention for truly transformative change.
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Inhalants and Creating a Safe Space for Long-Term Recovery
Substances used as inhalants are much harder to avoid during treatment and aftercare compared to alcohol and other substances. Some people may worry about leaving the structured environment of treatment. Returning home involves entering a space where people have much easier access to household cleaners, gasoline, glue, and other common substances used as inhalants. Exclusive Hawaii Rehab™ helps individuals and families prepare for long-term recovery by providing them with relapse prevention strategies and educating them on how to create a safe living environment.
FAQs on Inhalants
What are the long-term side effects of nitrous oxide?
Inhaling nitrous oxide can lead to a myriad of lasting effects, especially in those living with addiction and engaging in repeated use. Nerve damage, compromised balance and coordination, difficulty forming and recalling memories even when not using the drug, and compromised judgment and problem-solving skills are all possible. Likewise, persistent mental health disorders like anxiety, paranoia, depression, and more are also possible. Professional treatment for overcoming nitrous oxide addiction is often necessary to address not just the immediate effects of the drug but also explore its lasting implications and effects for a comprehensive approach to healing.
How common is inhalant abuse?
How do I know if a loved one needs professional addiction treatment for inhalant use?
FAQs
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