Hi, my name’s Sara Bellum. Welcome to my 

magazine series exploring the brain’s response 

to drugs. In this issue, we’ll investigate the 

fascinating facts about inhalants. Some 

of this information was only recently 

discovered by leading scientists.

Maybe you haven’t heard of inhalants, 

but you probably come across them 

pretty often. Hair spray, gasoline, 

spray paint -- they are all inhalants, 

and so are lots of other everyday 

products.

Many inhalants have a strong 

smell. Some people inhale the 

vapors on purpose. That’s why 

they’re called “inhalants.”

Why would anyone do this? 

Because the chemicals in these 

vapors can change the way the brain

works, and those changes can make

people feel very happy for a short time.

The Brain’s Response to

Inhalants

Can You Fill the Gaps

Sometimes, nerve cells that are damaged 

by inhalants may be able to repair 

themselves. The empty spaces in the 

following brain-related words represent 

damaged neurons. See if you can 

“repair” them by filling in the blanks to 

complete the words. (Hint: All the words 

are in this magazine.)

1) M . . L . .

2) . . U . O .

3) . . PP . . . M . . S 

The truth is, there’s still a whole lot 

that scientists do not know about the 

effects of inhalants on the brain.

When scientists learn more about 

how various inhalants affect the 

brain, they may be able to develop 

treatments that prevent the damage 

inhalants can cause. Maybe someday you’ll make the next major 

breakthrough.

Until then, follow me -- Sara Bellum 

-- through many other magazines in 

my series. We’ll explore how drugs 

can affect the brain and also the 

nervous system. 

Mind Over Matter is produced by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 

National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and 

Human Services. These materials are in the public domain and may be 

reproduced without permission. Citation of the source is appreciated. NIH 

Publication No. 06-4038. Printed 1997. Reprinted 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 

2006.

Damage from long term use of inhalants can slow or stop nerve cell activity in some 

parts of the brain.

This might happen in the frontal cortex, the part of the brain that solves complex 

problems and plans ahead. Or if inhalants get into the brain’s cerebellum, which controls 

movement and coordination, they can make someone move slowly or clumsily.

Studies show that neurons in a part of the brain called the hippocampus can also be 

damaged by inhalants. The damage occurs because the cells don’t get enough oxygen.

Since the hippocampus helps control memory, someone who repeatedly uses inhalants 

may lose the ability to learn new things, may not recognize familiar things, or may have 

a hard time keeping track of simple conversations.

Changes in the Brain

The Search Continues

Answers:

1) M Y E L I N

2) N E U R O N

3) H I P P O C A M P U S

National Institute on Drug Abuse

National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information,

P.O. Box 2345, Rockville, MD 20847

1-800-729-6686

For more information, visit:

www.drugabuse.gov
One reason scientists are so interested in 

inhalants is that these chemicals affect the 

body in lots of ways. While some effects 

are due to changes in the brain, others are 

direct actions on other parts of the body, 

such as the circulatory system.

Did you know that some inhalants directly 

increase the size of blood vessels, allowing 

more blood to flow through? And some 

inhalants can make the heart beat faster. 

This can be a serious problem, especially 

if someone inhales butane gas.

Butane, found in cigarette lighters and 

refills, makes the heart extra sensitive to 

a chemical that carries messages from the 

nervous system to the heart. This chemical, 

noradrenaline, tells the heart to beat faster 

when you’re in a stressful situation -- like if 

something suddenly scares you.

If the heart becomes too sensitive to 

noradrenaline, a normal jolt of it may cause 

the heart to temporarily lose its rhythm 

and stop pumping blood through the body. 

Some inhalant users die this way. Inhalants 

can also cause death by suffocation. This 

occurs when the inhaled fumes take the 

place of oxygen in the lungs and the brain. 

This is known as Sudden Sniffing Death.

Brain

Inhalant vapors often contain more than 

one chemical. Some leave the body 

quickly, but others are absorbed 

by fatty tissues in the brain and 

nervous system. They can stay 

there for a long time.

One of these fatty tissues is myelin -- a 

protective cover that surrounds many of 

the body’s nerve cells (neurons). Nerve 

cells in your brain and spinal cord are 

sort of like “Command Central” for your 

body. They send and receive messages that 

control just about everything you think 

and do.

If you picture nerve cells as your body’s 

electrical wiring, then think of myelin 

as the rubber insulation that protects an 

electrical cord.

One problem with inhalant use over the 

long term is that the chemicals can break 

down myelin. And if myelin breaks down, 

nerve cells may not be able to transmit 

messages.

They Don’t Go Away When You Exhale

Beyond

the