Inhalants are chemical substances whose vapors can be breathed in through the nose or mouth to produce mind-altering or intoxicating effects, often resulting in a quick “high”.
What Are Inhalants?
Inhalants consist of common household and industrial products such as glues, paints, cleaning fluids, aerosols, solvents, and gases that were never intended for human consumption. These chemicals release fumes or vapors at room temperature, which people inhale intentionally to feel euphoric or intoxicated.
Types and Examples
There are four main categories of inhalants:
- Volatile solvents (e.g., glue, paint thinner, nail polish remover, gasoline)
- Aerosols (e.g., spray paint, hairspray, cooking spray)
- Gases (e.g., butane, propane, nitrous oxide)
- Nitrites (e.g., amyl nitrite, commonly referred to as “poppers”).
Methods of Use
People use inhalants by “sniffing”, “huffing”, or “bagging”:
- Sniffing vapors directly from a container
- Huffing fumes from a rag soaked with chemicals
- Bagging, where a user inhales fumes collected in a bag
- Inhaling gases from balloons or other devices, especially with nitrous oxide.
Effects and Risks
Inhalants quickly affect the central nervous system—producing effects similar to alcohol, such as euphoria, dizziness, and excitement, but these effects are short-lived. Repeated use can lead to serious health risks, including brain, liver, and kidney damage, heart failure, suffocation, coma, and even death.
Who Uses Inhalants?
Inhalant abuse is most common among young adolescents, often because these products are cheap, legal, and easily accessible.
In summary, inhalants are everyday chemicals misused for their intoxicating effects, posing significant risks to health and well-being.
