It is not possible for them to show consistent progress. Inhalant abusers need to have comprehensive assessments, not only to understand their treatment needs but also to assess their treatment readiness and receptivity. Because the patients are young, there is an increased chance that they are still influenced heavily by their families. More family-oriented treatment is often called for. Inhalant abusers present special needs, and staff who work with them need special training, sensitivity, and patience in developing individualized treatment plans for this population.
Most inhalant abusers have a longer length of stay than other drug abusers in an inpatient setting.
This longer length of stay seems to help them to clear cognitively, and staff expectations for their performance seem to increase with each passing week. Maturity Levels Maturity levels are often a concern in treating inhalant abusers. Most are approximately 13 years of age when they become identified as being candidates for treatment. It appears that inhalant abuse is of significant, though not epidemic proportions. Even though the abuse of solvents may not be increasing to any great extent, it is a problem that requires serious attention.