Huffing: Is your child at risk of inhalant abuse?

Huffing is potentially lethal. Learn the warning signs of inhalant abuse — and what to do if you find your child huffing.

What's so dangerous about a bottle of spray paint or can of deodorant spray? Plenty.

Huffing these common household products can provide a quick high. As harmless as it may seem to kids, the risks of huffing and other types of inhalant abuse are real — and potentially lethal.

What are inhalants?

Inhalants are ordinary household products, including hair spray, nail polish remover, vegetable oil spray, cleaning fluids and spray paint. Huffing, sniffing or bagging concentrated amounts of these products can produce a quick high, usually lasting only a few minutes.

Would you recognize an inhalant if you saw one? Look for these chemicals:

Acetone
Amyl nitrite
Benzene
Butane
Butyl nitrite
Freon
Methylene chloride
Propane
Toluene
Trichloroethylene

What does it mean to huff an inhalant?

Huffing is sometimes used as a generic term for any type of inhalant abuse. Specifically, however, there are various ways to abuse inhalants:

Huffing. To huff an inhalant, you soak a rag in an inhalant and press the rag to your mouth.
Sniffing. To sniff an inhalant, you sniff or snort fumes from an aerosol container. You may even spray an aerosol product directly into your nose or mouth.
Bagging. To bag an inhalant, you inhale fumes from a product sprayed or poured into a plastic or paper bag.

At first, huffing, sniffing or bagging causes a sense of euphoria. Abusing the inhalant repeatedly over several hours can prolong or intensify the high. For many kids, inhalants provide a cheap and accessible alternative to alcohol. And it may happen more often than you think. An estimated 1.1 million adolescents in the United States alone abuse inhalants every year, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

What are the risks of huffing?

The initial euphoria of huffing, sniffing or bagging may be followed by dizziness, slurred speech, and loss of coordination, inhibition and control. Some kids become agitated or irritable. Hallucinations and delusions are possible.

If an inhalant causes the heart to begin working too hard, a rapid, irregular heartbeat (dysrhythmia) may trigger lethal heart failure. This can happen even to first-time inhalers — especially those who abuse butane, propane and chemicals in aerosols.

Chronic huffing, sniffing or bagging can cause weakness, fatigue, and serious liver and kidney damage. Permanent brain damage and hearing loss are possible as well.

Other devastating effects of huffing, sniffing or bagging may include:

Asphyxiation, when inhalants displace oxygen within the lungs
Suffocation, when inhalants block air from entering the lungs
Choking
Seizures
Loss of consciousness
Death

What's the best way to prevent huffing?

Talk to your child — today.

Discuss the risks. Open discussion can help prevent a tragedy. Talk about what products may be abused and slang terms for inhalants. State the facts clearly. Emphasize that inhalants are deadly chemicals, not a harmless way to get high.
Be a good listener. Encourage your child to come to you with questions or concerns.
Set expectations. Let your child know that you won't tolerate huffing or other types of inhalant abuse. Remind your child that you love him or her — and safety comes first.
Stay involved. Meet your child's friends. Know where your child is and what he or she is doing, especially after school. Support your child's efforts to resist peer pressure.

What are the warning signs?

Huffing, sniffing and bagging can be easy to conceal. Look for these warning signs:

Hidden rags, clothes or empty containers of products that may be abused
Chemical odors on breath or clothing
Paint or other stains on face, hands or clothing
Drunk or dazed appearance
Slurred or incoherent speech
Lack of coordination
Inattentiveness
Irritability
Depression

What if I find my child huffing?

If you discover your child huffing, sniffing or bagging, stay calm. If your child is breathing, move to a well-ventilated area and call the local poison control center. If your child is unconscious or not breathing, seek emergency medical help.

If your child has been abusing inhalants for some time, withdrawal symptoms — sleep disturbances, irritability, nausea, vomiting, sweating, rapid heartbeat, hallucinations or delusions — are possible.

If your child can't stop huffing, sniffing or bagging on his or her own, seek professional help. Start with your child's doctor, a school counselor or a local drug rehabilitation facility. The support of a mental health professional may be valuable as well. With help, your child can learn how to make healthy choices for a lifetime.