Nitrites often are considered a special class of inhalants. And while other inhalants are used to alter mood, nitrites are used primarily as sexual enhancers. Cyclohexyl nitrite is found in room odorizers. Amyl nitrite is used in certain diagnostic procedures and is prescribed to some patients for heart pain. One national survey indicates about 6 percent of U.S. children have tried inhalants by the time they reach fourth grade.
Inhalants also are one of the few substances abused more by younger children than by older ones.
Nevertheless, inhalant abuse can become chronic and extend into adulthood. Generally, inhalant abusers will abuse any available substance. However, effects produced by individual inhalants vary, and some individuals will go out of their way to obtain their favorite inhalant. Silver and gold spray paints, which contain more toluene than other spray colors, also are popular inhalants. Data from national and State surveys suggest inhalant abuse reaches its peak at some point during the seventh through ninth grades.