Known by various other names such as volatile substance abuse, solvent abuse, glue sniffing, sniffing and huffing, the practice of inhalant abuse can serve as a gateway substance for youngsters who may continue patterns of abuse into adulthood. However, some individuals become chronic users.
Hydrocarbons are the chief chemicals of inhalant abuse.
They may be aliphatic, aromatomatic or halogenated hydrocarbons. They share many properties with anesthetic gases, which also have been known to be abused. These chemicals are found in many consumer products such as model glue, gasoline, correction fluid, felt-tip marker fluids, contact cement, lacquers, nail polish remover and fuel for cigarette lighters. Propellants in aerosol containers are also hydrocarbons, so that any pressurized aerosol product can be used as an inhalant. The means of inhalation is usually through the mouth from saturated rags or plastic bags containing the product.