Inhalant
Abuse
8th Grade Wellness
Inhalants are dangerous chemical substances that
are inhaled for the purpose of altering one’s perception
of the environment, or ‘getting high’.
Inhalants include many common household items
Inhalants are generally inexpensive and easy to obtain.
Table Partner Activity
• Discuss and list some common inhalants that
are most often abused.
• Think to the video we watched about inhalants to
get some ideas.
Liquids
Aerosols
Gases
Paint thinner
Paint Remover
Dry-Cleaning
Fluids
Gasoline
Glues
Correction
Fluids,
Felt-Tip Markers
Spray Paints
Deodorant
Hair Sprays
Vegetable Oil
Sprays
Fabric Protector
Spray
Chloroform
Nitrous Oxide
Whipped Cream
Cans
Butane Lighters
Propane Tanks
Refrigerants
Nitrites
Leather Cleaner
Room Deodorizer
Food
Preservatives
• A 2008 survey found that 14.9% of 8th graders,
12.3% of 10th graders and 9.5% of 12th graders
had abused inhalants at least once in the previous
year.
• 75% of inhalant abusers were under 18 when they
first started using inhalants
• Males and females are equally likely to abuse
inhalants.
• Teenagers who abuse inhalants tend to come from
higher income families and are often perceived as
good kids.
Air Blast Ames Amys Aroma of Men Huff
Boppers Bullet Bolt Buzz Bomb
Discorama Hardware Hippie Crack
Hiagra in a Bottle Highball Moon Gas
Thrust
Snappers
Heart-on
Medusa
Spray
Pearls
Whiteout
Poppers
Snotballs Shoot the Breeze Whippets
Texas Shoe Shine Toilet Water
Satan’s Secret Poor Man’s Pot Quicksilver
Rush Snappers Laughing Gas Locker Room
Bagging
Inhaling fumes from a
substance placed inside
of a bag
Huffing
Inhaling substances
soaked into a rag
Balloons
Inhaling a substances
placed inside of a balloon
Sniffing/Snorting
Spraying
Inhaling fumes from a
Spraying inhalant directly
container
into the nose/mouth
Table Partner Activity
• Discuss and list some of the short-term
responses to inhalant use.
• Think to the video we watched about inhalants to
get some ideas.
Slight
Stimulation/Euphoria
Blurry Vision
Drowsiness
Lowered
Inhibitions
Loss of
Consciousness
Hallucinations
Death
Death can result any
time a person uses
inhalants; even the
first time.
Inhalants may cause the heart
to become highly sensitive
to the effects of adrenaline.
is heart failure resulting
from an irregular heartbeat,
usually caused by stress or strenuous
activity after using inhalants.
Inhaled chemicals replace oxygen in the
bloodstream which may result in death.
http://www.nida.nih.gov/ResearchReports/Inhalants/Inhalants.html
Please click on this link to open the video.
• Slurred Speech
• Nausea/Loss of
Appetite
• Irritability
• Paint or Other
Unusual Stains on
Face or Clothing
• Inattentiveness
• Red Eyes, Runny
Nose
• Depression
• Lack of
Coordination
• Anxiety
• Restlessness
• Acting Drunk or
Disoriented
• Empty Chemical
Containers in
Trash
Treatment
approaches
for inhalant
abusers must
be tailored to
meet their
unique needs.
• Medical Intervention
• Detailed history of substances abused.
• Identification and treatment of medical problems that resulted from
inhalant abuse.
• Psychotherapy
• Inhalant abusers may have psychological conditions, such as low selfesteem and depression, which have not been properly treated in the
past.
A good
treatment
program for
anyone with
an inhalant
abuse
problem
includes:
• It is important to identify mental health needs and develop a therapy
plan to address the underlying problems that may have led to inhalant
abuse. Relapse
• Education on the dangers of inhalant abuse
• Enlist family support .
• Encouragement to form new friendships and avoidance of peers who
abuse inhalants.
•http://www.drugabuse.gov/PDF/RRinhalants.pdf
•http://www.inhalant.org/media/kit.php
•http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/Stats.html
•http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Inhalant-Abuse/support-group
•http://www.rehabtreatment.info/albany-outpatient.htm