Inhalents

=What are Inhalants?=

There are four general categories that inhalants fall under, they are: Volatile Solvents (paint thinners, glues and cement), Aerosols (spray paint and fuel gas), Gaseous Anaesthetics (whipped cream or medical use) and lastly Nitrites (locker room and poppers). The most common way to inhale volatile solvents include sniffing which is when the user proceeds to directly inhale from the container through the nose and mouth. Huffing, the user will soak a shirtsleeve or sock into the solvent and place it over their nose and mouth to inhale the fumes and there is bagging which is when the user will inhale a concentration of the fumes from a bag that is placed over their nose and mouth (Black, et al., 2012).

Volatile solvents are quickly absorbed through the lungs and travel to the brain and other organs; the effect is almost immediately but will only last a few minutes. The user will feel excitement, and be typically experiencing euphoria the "high", light-headedness distorted vision and sense of space and lack of inhibition. Some physical symptoms that the user may experience are ataxia, which is the inability to coordinate muscle movement, nausea, vomiting and dizziness (Black, et al., p156). Once the high passes, the user will start to feel drowsy and physically ill, the chemicals act like depressants and slow down the CNS.

=Who does it effect?=

Inhaling is very common amongst youth between the ages of 10 to 16 with males more likely to use than females. Inhaling is usually only used occasionally and individuals tend to use less and less as they get older, but it can become very addictive. Those who use regularly can develop tolerance and experience withdraw symptoms this may include nausea, loss of appetite, tremors, anxiety, depression and paranoia.

=Inhalants and Schizophrenia=

Inhalants may cause psychotic symptoms in any individual, but they cannot cause schizophrenia in someone without a predisposition to mental illness. The user may begin to experience hallucinations, hearing voices and/or thinking people may be out to harm them. It is very likely that this will be a drug-induced psychosis that can be treated if the individual retains from the inhalant. Unfortunately, for those who are pre-disposed to mental illness, this can cause them to become more likely to develop schizophrenia later in life. Inhaling could be a reason why in poverty communities such as native reserves there is such a high rate of mental illness, it is very common amongst the people who live there and is started at such a young age.