Inhalants What are Inhalants a broad range of

Inhalants

What are Inhalants? • a broad range of drugs in the forms of gases, aerosols, or solvents which are breathed in and absorbed through the lungs.

Why do people use Inhalants? • Medical purposes – Anesthetic (Example: Nitrous oxide as dental anesthetic) – Bronchodilator (Example: Levosalbutamol) Ø by dilating the bronchi/bronchioles so that airway resistance decreases and airflow becomes much easier

• Non-medical (Recreational) purposes – as recreational drugs • Recreational drugs are drugs which are used for their intoxicating effect – to gain acceptance • Sometimes, a person uses inhalants so that he can join a group – as a relief from sadness or depression • A person burdened with many problems might resort to sniffing inhalants so that he can momentarily get out of his problems

Types of Inhalants • Solos and Propellants • Solvents • Nitrite drugs

• Solos and Propellants – Solos and propellants used as inhalants include a range of inexpensive, legallyavailable household, office, industrial, and automotive products – administered by putting it in a plastic bag and then inhaled – examples are aerosol spray cans, air fresheners, and aerosol hairspray

• Solvents – solvents are found in a number of household and office products – also found in industrial and automotive products – also administered by putting in plastic bags and inhaling the vapor – examples are toluene, butane, and acetone

• Nitrite Drugs – medically used for treatment of heart diseases and cyanide poisoning – abused nitrite drugs are called “poppers” – causes euphoric effects – regulated by law but are available in legal products – examples include amyl nitrite and alkyl nitrite

Dangers of Using Inhalants • • Injury due to harmful effects Injury due to dangerous behavior Suffocation Death