Drug Awareness
Inhalants
Most parents are in the dark regarding the popularity and dangers of inhalant use.
However, children are quickly discovering that common household products are
inexpensive to obtain, easy to hide, and the easiest way to get high. Most inhalants act
directly on the central nervous system to produce psychoactive or mind-altering effects.
If sufficient amounts of the product are inhaled, they produce emotional emptiness, a loss
of sensation, and even the loss of consciousness.
What products are abused?
Ordinary household products, which can be safely used for legitimate purposes, can be
problematic in the hands of an inhalant abuser. The following categories of products are
reportedly abused: glues/adhesives, nail polish remover, marking pens, paint thinner,
spray paint, butane lighter fluid, gasoline, propane gas, correction fluid, household
cleaners, cooking sprays, deodorants, fabric protectors, whipping cream aerosols, and air
conditioning coolants.
Common terms associated with inhalants.
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Air Blast – Inhalants
Poor Man’s Pot - Inhalants
Glading – Using Inhalants
Bagging – Using Inhalants
Huffer – Inhalant abuser
Buzz Bomb – Inhaling Nitrous Oxide – “Laughing Gas”
Climax – Inhaling Isobutyl Nitrate – “Poppers”
Gluey – Sniffing or inhaling glue
What are the effects of inhalant abuse?
Sniffing can cause sickness and death. For example, victims may become nauseated,
forgetful, and unable to see things clearly. Victims may lose control of their body,
including the use of arms and legs. These effects can last 15 to 45 minutes after sniffing.
In addition, sniffing can severely damage many parts of the body, including the brain,
heart, liver, and kidneys. Even worse, victims can die suddenly without any warning.
"Sudden Sniffing Death" can occur during or right after sniffing. The heart begins to
overwork, beating rapidly and unevenly, which can lead to cardiac arrest. Even first-time
abusers have been known to die from sniffing inhalants.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department - Crime Prevention
601 East Trade Street Charlotte, NC 28202
For more information, visit www.cmpd.org or call us at 704.336.2310
What can you do to prevent inhalant abuse?
One of the most important steps you can take is to talk with your children or other
youngsters about not experimenting, even one time with inhalants. Encourage your child
to come to you with questions or concerns. Let your child know that you won’t tolerate
inhalant abuse. Meet your child’s friends and know where they are what they are doing.
By discussing this problem openly and stressing the devastating consequences of inhalant
abuse, you can help prevent a tragedy.
Signs that your child might be abusing inhalants:
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Unusual breath odor or chemical odor on clothing
Slurred or disoriented speech
Drunk, dazed, or dizzy appearance
Stain marks on the face, fingers or clothing
Red or runny eyes or nose
Spots and/or sores around the mouth
Nausea and/or loss of appetite
Sitting with a pen or marker near nose
Constantly smelling clothing sleeves
Hiding rags, clothes, or empty containers of the abused product in closets and other
places.
Anxious, excitable, irritable, and/or restless
Side effects of abusing inhalants:
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Short term memory loss
Hearing loss
Limb spasms/tremors
Permanent brain damage
Bone marrow damage
Liver and kidney damage
Emotional instability
Cognitive impairment
Slurred and "scanning" speech
Wide-based ataxic gait
Staggering or stumbling
Nystagmus – rapid involuntary rhythmic eye movement
Loss of sense of smell
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department - Crime Prevention
601 East Trade Street Charlotte, NC 28202
For more information, visit www.cmpd.org or call us at 704.336.2310