Inhalant
Abuse
Inhalants
are ordinary household products that are inhaled or sniffed by people
to get high. There are hundreds of household products on the market
today that can be misused as inhalants. These products are
sniffed, snorted, bagged (fumes inhaled from a plastic bag), or
“huffed” (inhalant-soaked rag, sock, or roll of toilet paper in
the mouth) to achieve a high. Inhalants are also sniffed directly
from the container.
Within
seconds of inhalation, the user experiences intoxication along with
other effects similar to those produced by alcohol. Alcohol-like
effects may include slurred speech, an inability to coordinate
movements, dizziness, confusion and delirium. Nausea and vomiting are
other common side effects. In addition, users may experience
lightheadedness, hallucinations, and delusions.
Compulsive use and a mild withdrawal syndrome can occur with
long-term inhalant abuse. Additional symptoms exhibited by long-term
inhalant abusers include weight loss, muscle weakness,
disorientation, inattentiveness, lack of coordination, irritability,
and depression.
After heavy use of inhalants, abusers may feel
drowsy for several hours and experience a lingering headache. Because
intoxication lasts only a few minutes, abusers frequently seek to
prolong their high by continuing to inhale repeatedly over the course
of several hours. By doing this, abusers can suffer loss of
consciousness and death.
Article....
http://journals.lww.com/co-psychiatry/Abstract/2005/05000/Inhalants__not_to_be_taken_lightly_anymore.5.aspx
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