The literature states that they are among the youngest who abuse during the most critical years. They are likely to have been using drugs for a longer time and show consequences at an earlier age. The average age for first use for the inhalant abuser is 10.8 years compared with 12.5 years for those drug abusers with no mention of inhalant use. Medical problems associated with inhalant abuse. Medical problems associated with inhalant abuse include respiratory, cardiovascular and hematological complications, liver abnormalities, renal failure, cerebellar impairment, and inhalant-induced sudden death syndrome.
Cardiac dysfunction progresses and the user collapses in death.
Neurocognitive and developmental problems. Damage to the central nervous system is the most widely recognized consequence of inhalant abuse. To date, approximately 40 percent of Our Home admissions aged 14 and under and 50 percent of admissions aged 15 and older have presented with measured neuropsychological deficits. The literature also shows inhalant abusers are likely to be experiencing neurocognitive impairment. The deficits resulting from inhalant abuse include decreased memory, decreased nonverbal intelligence, decreased attention span, and decreased ability to concentrate.