High concentrations of inhalants can also cause death from suffocation by displacing the oxygen in the lungs. Inhalants can also depress the central nervous system so much that breathing slows down until it stops. Tolerance Develops Quickly Tolerance is defined as the need for larger doses of the drug to produce the same effect. Tolerance develops quickly among inhalant users. As users mature, they may seek other substances such as marijuana, cocaine, and LSD in order to achieve that high.
Recent studies indicate that sniffing solvents during pregnancy can cause birth defects.
Labeled as Fetal Solvent Syndrome, this condition exhibits such classic symptoms as a small head, deep-set eyes, small midface, disfigured nose and ears, and stubby fingertips. The primary solvent responsible for these defects is toluene, which is found in spray paints, gasoline and many other products. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, peak use of inhalants occurs between the ages of 11 and 13 and greatly affects minority groups such as Hispanics and Native Americans. Inhalant users frequently have high truancy and dropout rates. Generally inhalants are abused in conjunction with alcohol and marijuana and may indicate a high level of drug involvement.