Inhalants- central nervous system depressants characterized by a high vapor (gas) pressure and a significant solubility (dissolve) at room temperature

Abused when people deliberately inhale a large amount of the substance

Solvents (liquids) are inhaled by putting the substance in a closed container or soaking it into cloth and inhaling through it

Compressed gases are sometimes released into balloons and inhaled directly from the balloon (helium)

Releasing these substances into the mouth may freeze the larynx causing laryngospasm and death by asphyxiation

The effects and duration depends on how fast it goes to the blood and brain

Other ways they are administered: bagging, sniffing, snorting huffing

Solvents (chloroform and diethyl ether) and gases( nitrous oxide)- first used for medical purposes

The effects were noticed among many people causing it to be used as a recreational drug as well as for medical purposes

Sir Humphrey Davy (British chemist and physician) made nitrous oxide popular in the 18th and 19th century by holding parties so people would come to get high

He noticed the effects and decided that it could be used for operations

Inhalants (nitrous oxide, diethyl ether and cyclopropane) became anesthetics

Most Common Inhalant used: Nitrous oxide during dental work

Inhalants in General- Air Blast, Bullet, Bullet Bolt, Climax,

Discorama, Hardware, Heart-on, Hiagra in a Bottle, Highball, Hippie

Crack, Honey Oil, Huff, Kick, Locker Room, Medusa, Moon Gas, Poor

Man’s Pot, Quicksilver, Rush, Satan's Secret, Sniff, Spray, Texas Shoe

Shine, Thrust, Toilet Water and Whiteout

Amyl Nitrite- Aimies, Ames, Amys, Boppers, Pearls, Poppers,

Isobutyl Nitrite- Aroma of Men, Bolt, Bullet, Climax, Hardware, Locker

Room, Poppers, Quicksilver, Rush, Rush Snappers, Snappers, Thrust

Other Inhalants: Whipped Cream, Air Fresheners, Spray Cleaners,

Pam, Lighter Fluid, Gasoline, Asthma Inhaler, White Out, Hair Spray,

Helium, Chloroform, Starter Fluid, Spray Cleaner, Spray Deodorant

Aerosols- a liquid substance sealed in a metal container; examples: hair spray, vegetable oil, spray deodorant

Gases- butane lighters, propane tanks and nitrous oxide (used in whip cream dispensers)

Medical Anesthetics- usually gases that have a purpose but if used in excess can become harmful

Nitrites- used in medicine to dilate blood vessels; also used to increase sexual pleasure

Chronic Inhalant Users: Hard to treat because they might have personal and social problems which led to them using in the first place

Recovery takes a long time because it involves support from family, learning how to cope with the substances being all around them, and increasing self-esteem

Inhalation Intoxication- treated in hospitals when a person begins to suffer psychological ( hallucinations or delusions) or medical effects (difficulty breathing, headache, nausea, vomiting)

Overdose (sudden sniffing syndrome) causes rapid and irregular heartbeat or severe difficulty breathing, heart failure and death, permanent damaged to the heart, brain, lungs, kidneys, and muscles (loss of muscles)

Causes: disorientation, nausea, diarrhea and nose bleeds, hallucinations drowsiness, coma, and an increase in adrenaline

Suffocation- from inhaling fumes when head is covered in a plastic bag

Convulsions or Seizures- caused by abnormal electrical discharges from the brain

Coma- Brain shuts down and most vital functions

Choking- occurs after inhaling leading to vomiting

Short Term: heart rate increases, difficulty breathing, dizziness, headaches

Long Term: damage to brain, nerve cells, heart, lungs, liver and kidney

Physical effects: Spots and sores around the mouth, red runny eyes and nose

Other effects: nausea, loss of appetite, and slurred speech

Nervousness (Tremors)

Lack of Appetite

Depression

Anxiety

Dizziness

Nausea

Inhalants with accepted medical uses include: nitrous oxide and amyl nitrite

Nitrous Oxide- anesthetic used by dentists to minimize pain during a normal procedure

Nitrous Oxide- also used in operating rooms to prepare patients for surgery by making them numb

Amyl nitrite- clear yellowish liquid prescribed by physicians to relieve severe chest pains in people with heart disease

Amyl Nitrite also helps relax muscles around blood vessels of heart making blood flow easier.

Differs from state to state. For example, there is no particular punishment for using inhalants in New York State because the substances used to get high are legal.

Violators in some states need to pay a fine of no more than $200 or imprisonment for 6 months and the abusers need to get treatment at a rehab center.

United States and Canadian cities placed restrictions on sale of sale particularly for products widely associated with sniffing.

In New York State anyone under the age of 18 cannot purchase certain substances that can be used as an inhalant such as spray paint.

These consequences do not apply to medical uses unless the doctors abuse it.

1. Why are people more likely to use inhalants than other drugs?

2. What are the categories of inhalants?

3. What happens to muscles after someone becomes an inhalant addict?

4. Who was the man who first popularized inhalants?

5. Where do you find the most usage of medical anesthetics?

6. Name the drug dentists use on patients to numb them.

7. List any three inhalants found at home.

8. What is one slang word used for inhalants?

9. What is one short term affect of inhalants?

10.What is one long term affect of inhalants?

11.What is the most common inhalant used?

12. What is the name given to overdosing? (Hint: Blank Blank Syndrome)

13. Name one way to use inhalants.

14.Are there criminal charges for using inhalants in New York?

15.What kind of depressants are inhalants?

Rachelle Mendez

Diem Phuong-Pham

Jennifer Rodriguez

Crystal Villanueva