Inhalants Straight Facts

HERE ARE THE STRAIGHT FACTS...

About Inhalants

Inhalants refer to substances that are sniffed or huffed to give the user an immediate head rush or high. They include a diverse group of chemicals that are found in consumer products such as aerosols and cleaning solvents. Inhalant use can cause a number of physical and emotional problems, and even one-time use can result in death.

Using inhalants even one time can put you at risk for:

sudden death

suffocation

visual hallucinations and severe mood swings

numbness and tingling of the hands and feet

Prolonged use can result in:

headache, muscle weakness, abdominal pain

decrease or loss of sense of smell

nausea and nosebleeds

hepatitis

violent behaviors

irregular heartbeat

liver, lung, and kidney impairment

irreversible brain damage

nervous system damage

dangerous chemical imbalances in the body

involuntary passing of urine and feces

Short-term effects of inhalants include:

heart palpitations

breathing difficulty

dizziness

headaches

Remember, using inhalants, even one time, can kill you. According to medical experts, death can occur in at least five ways:

asphyxia--solvent gases can significantly limit available oxygen in the air, causing breathing to stop;

suffocation--typically seen with inhalant users who use bags;

choking on vomit;

careless behaviors in potentially dangerous settings; and

sudden sniffing death syndrome, presumably from cardiac arrest.

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