ghd Franceghd stylersghd France

Write for Suite101 |
Today's Articles
| Sign In
Browse Sections

Liquid Paper Can Be Lethal - Wikimedia Commons

Gas Sniffing - Wikimedia Commons

Felt-tip Markers Can Kill - Wikimedia Commons

Solvent Sniffing: Inhalants Still Popular Chemical Vapors Produce a Deadly High
Nov 30, 2009 Karen Stephenson

According to Drug Aware™ more children die every year as a result of solvent abuse than from all other illegal drugs put together. According to the Volatile Substance Abuse Prevention Organization, the youngest person to succumb to solvent sniffing was only seven years old and the oldest was 80 years of age.
What are Inhalants?
The term inhalant refers to chemical vapors (or gas) that produces a “high” when inhaled. Common substances used include glue, gasoline, cleaning solvents, aerosols, paint thinners and more. These are not intended for human consumption, but for many youth, these are cheap, legal to possess and very easy to obtain. Inhalants are categorically put into four types. They are:
Volatile solvents. "Volatile" means they evaporate when exposed to the air and "solvent" means they dissolve other substances. Examples of these include: benzene, toluene, xylene, acetone, naptha, gasoline, correction fluid, felt-tip markers,ghd France, paint thinners and cleaning fluids.Aerosol or spray cans. Hair spray, cooking spray and spray paints are examples of aerosol products that contain pressurized liquids or gases such as fluorocarbon and butane.Gases. These are more difficult to obtain as they include medical anesthetics,ghd stylers, chloroform and halothane. Also in this category are gases found in commercially available products such as butane lighters and propane tanks.Nitrites. Room odourizers, video head cleaners contain amyl nitrites, butyl nitrites and cyclohexyl nitrite (also referred to as “poppers”).Who Is Using Inhalants?
Youth between the ages of 10 and 16 are trying inhalants once or twice, or use them on occasion. Some of those youth are solvent sniffing more frequently and in some cases, continue this into adulthood. Chronic solvent users tend to be in their 20s. This form of abuse is associated with difficulty at school, lack of opportunities, poverty, and in families in which substance abuse exists.
Short-Term Effects
With about 15 to 20 sniffs, there is an instant “high” followed by a drowsy feeling. Some youth experience double vision, slurred speech and trouble walking. Feeling confused and having hallucinations is another effect. Other short-term effects include:
sneezing and coughingtrouble breathingrash on the faceproblems with sadness, anger and fightingLong -Term Effects
Long-term effects depend on which inhalant is used. Some possible effects are depression, irritability, paranoia, tremors, weakness,mercurial vapor superfly ii fg, weight loss and sore on the nose and mouth. Some of these may be reversible, but some damage is permanent. There can also be damage to bone marrow, permanent hearing loss organ damage and chronic long-term use can cause the brain to atrophy.
Getting Help
There are treatments available. Ask the family physician what services are in your area. For reliable information there is the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Canada and the National Institute on Drug Abuse in the United States.
Sources:
CAMH : Centre for Addiction and Mental HealthNIH: National Institutes of HealthHealth Sciences Centre Winnipeg