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Inhalants drug treatment

   Inhalants are an equal opportunity method of substance abuse. You can easily find them in the house, in schools, at the office and in every grocery store. The term "inhalants" refers to more than a thousand household and commercial products that can be abused by inhaling them through one's mouth or nose for an intoxicating effect. These products are composed of volatile solvents and substances commonly found in commercial adhesives, lighter fluids, cleaning solvents and paint products.

   Their easy accessibility, low cost and ease of concealment make inhalants one of the first substances abused. Inhalant use refers to the intentional breathing of gas or vapors with the purpose of reaching a high. Inhalant users can ingest substances in various ways that include inhaling directly from containers for products such as rubber cement or correction fluid, sniffing fumes from plastic bags held over the mouth and nose, or sniffing a cloth saturated with the substance. The substance may be inhaled directly from an aerosol can or out of an alternative container such as a balloon filled with nitrous oxide. Some volatile substances release intoxicating vapors when heated.

   Products selected by inhalant abusers are volatile, capable of rapidly producing a pleasurable sensory experience, available, convenient and inexpensive. The latter three qualities are important because children have less sophisticated resources for acquiring substances of abuse.

   Nearly all abused products produce effects similar to anesthetics, which slow down the body's function. Varying upon level of dosage, the inhalants user can experience slight stimulation, feeling of less inhibition or loss of consciousness. Other effects include damage to the heart, kidney, brain, liver, bone marrow and other organs. Results similar to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome may also occur when inhalants are used during pregnancy. The chief organic morbidity, a consequence of chronic abuse, is central nervous system damage resulting in dementia and cerebellar dysfunction. Typically, there is a loss of cognitive and other higher functions, gait disturbance and loss of coordination. Inhalants are physically and psychologically addicting and users suffer withdrawal symptoms. Agitation may cause the huffer to become violent, experience hallucinations or suffer heart dysfunction which can cause Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome.

   Inhalant drug treatment is rare and difficult to find. Inhalant users suffer a high rate of relapse, and require thirty to forty days or more of detoxification. Being physically and psychologically addicting, users suffer withdrawal symptoms which can include hallucinations, nausea, excessive sweating, hand tremors, muscle cramps, headaches, chills and delirium tremens.

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