INHALANTS: FAST FACTS
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What Are Inhalants?
Inhalants are chemical vapors that product mind-altering effects when users inhale them by sniffing or snorting. These chemical vapors are found in more than 1,000 household products and typically belong to several broad categories: volatile solvents, aerosols, gases, and nitrites.
What Are The Risks?
Side effects associated with the use of inhalants include dizziness, strong hallucinations, delusions, belligerence, apathy, and impaired judgment. Long-term abusers experience additional problems including weight loss, muscle weakness, disorientation, inattentiveness, lack of coordination, irritability, and depression. Individuals who cease abuse of inhalants often endure withdrawal symptoms such as sweating, rapid pulse, hand tremors, insomnia, nausea or vomiting, hallucinations, and grand mal seizures. Chronic inhalant abuse may cause serious and sometime irreversible damage to the user’s heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, and brain. Brain damage may result in personality changes, diminished cognitive functioning, memory impairment, and slurred speech. Death can occur after a single use of inhalants or after prolonged use. Sudden sniffing death (SSD) may result within minutes of inhalant use from irregular heart rhythm leading to heart failure.
What To Look For….
Sometimes it’s tough to tell if someone has been using inhalants, but here are some signs you can look for:
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