Inhalants are common household and workplace 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 plastic cement, fingernail polish remover, lighter fluid, hair spray, insecticides and cleaning solvents. According to a recent survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, inhalant use among all grades has risen steadily since 1991. Nearly 20 percent of all adolescents report using inhalants at least once in their lives.
Current use is highest among eighth graders.
When inhalant use continues over a period of time, a user will probably develop a tolerance. This means that the user will need more frequent use and greater amounts of a substance to achieve the effect desired. This, in turn, leaves a user at much greater risk of suffering from possible negative effects of the drug, such as liver, lung, and kidney impairment, brain damage, nervous system damage, and even death. Physical dependence can also result, and when a user tries to give up the inhalant habit, withdrawal symptoms such as hallucinations, headaches, chills, delirium tremors, and stomach cramps may occur. Their easy accessibility, low cost and ease of concealment make inhalants, for many, one of the first substances abused.