A case of chloroform abuse in an adolescent was described in 1885. In America, gasoline sniffing became popular among teenagers in the 1950's, primarily in rural areas where alcohol and other commonly used drugs were unavailable. Glue sniffing became widespread in California in the early 1960's. By 1965 glue sniffing was occurring in every state and in many foreign countries. Inhalant abuse has experienced a steady increase in the United States, Mexico and Canada throughout the 1980's and early 1990's.
Inhalant abusers begin using in early to middle adolescence.
A significant minority continue into adulthood. Inhalant abusers use many different methods to extract and ingest the desired ingredient. Some of these methods add to the danger of inhalant abuse. Glue sniffers often distribute the glue on the inside surface of a paper bag. A variation of this is to put the glue into a rag and inhale air through the rag.