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Inhalant abuse: Is your child at risk?
By Mayo Clinic staffOriginal Article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/inhalant-abuse/HQ00923
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Inhalant abuse: Is your child at risk?
Would you know if your teen were huffing? Consider the telltale signs of inhalant abuse — and what you can do to prevent it.
By Mayo Clinic staffWhat's so dangerous about a can of spray paint or deodorant? Plenty. Huffing these and other common household products can provide a quick high. As harmless as it might seem to kids, the risks of huffing and other types of inhalant abuse are real — and potentially lethal.
What are inhalants?
Many ordinary household products can serve as inhalants, including:
- Hair spray
- Room deodorizer
- Cooking spray
- Correction fluid
- Glue
- Rubber cement
- Paint thinner
- Cigarette lighters
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, including:
- 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.
- Bagging. To bag an inhalant, you inhale fumes from a product sprayed or poured into a plastic or paper bag.
Huffing, sniffing or bagging causes a sense of euphoria that lasts about 15 to 30 minutes. For many kids, inhalants provide a cheap and accessible alternative to alcohol — and it might happen more often than you think. In the United States alone, nearly 10 percent of adolescents age 12 and older have used inhalants at some point, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
What are the risks of inhalant abuse?
The initial euphoria of huffing, sniffing or bagging may be followed by dizziness, slurred speech, and loss of coordination, inhibition and control. Hallucinations and delusions are possible.
If an inhalant causes the heart to begin working too hard, a rapid, irregular heartbeat (dysrhythmia) could trigger lethal heart failure — even for first-time inhalers. Chronic inhalant abuse can cause serious liver and kidney damage. Permanent brain damage, hearing loss and coordination problems are possible as well.
Other devastating effects of inhalant abuse might include suffocation, seizures, loss of consciousness and death.
What are the warning signs of inhalant abuse?
Inhalant abuse can be easy to conceal. Look for these warning signs:
- Hidden rags, clothes or empty containers of products that could be abused
- Chemical odors on breath or clothing
- Paint or other stains on face, hands or clothing
- Slurred or incoherent speech
- Lack of coordination
- Confusion
- Irritability
What's the best way to prevent inhalant abuse?
To prevent inhalant abuse, talk about it openly. For example:
- Discuss the risks. Honest discussion can help prevent a tragedy. Talk about what products can 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 and their parents. 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 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 until the effects of the episode wear off. If your child is unconscious or not breathing, seek emergency medical help.
If your child has been abusing inhalants for some time, withdrawal symptoms — such as sleep disturbances, irritability, nausea, vomiting, sweating, rapid heartbeat and physical tics — 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 can be valuable as well. With help, your child can end inhalant abuse and learn how to make healthy choices for a lifetime.
- Baydala L. Inhalant abuse. Paediatrics and Child Health. 2010;15:443.
- Garland EL, et al. Volatile substance misuse in the United States. Substance Use & Misuse. 2011;46:8.
- Criss L. Huffing: Prehospital identification and treatment of inhalant abuse. Journal of Emergency and Medical Services. 2009;34:42.
- At what age should I discuss drug use with my child? American Council for Drug Education. http://www.acde.org/parent/Ageaprop.htm. Accessed Oct. 13, 2011.
- NIDA InfoFacts: Inhalants. National Institute on Drug Abuse. http://www.drugabuse.gov/Infofax/inhalants.html. Accessed Oct. 13, 2011.
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