This puts users at risk for suffocation, said the Partnership for a Drug Free America. It produces a high that lasts anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. The immediate effects include decreased blood pressure, followed by an increased heart rate, flushed face and neck, dizziness and headache. Amyl Nitrite, a popular inhalant, is a clear, yellowish liquid that is sold in a cloth-covered, sealed bulb. It is used for heart patients and for diagnostic purposes because it dilates the blood vessels and makes the heart beat faster.
Men use inhalants at a higher rate than women, but currently, the gap is rapidly narrowing.
A heavy user of inhalants may find they need more and more to get high. These heavy users are most at risk for brain damage. Inhalant vapors react with these fatty tissues, which by up approximately one-third of the brain, by literally dissolving them. Chronic inhalant users may lose the ability to perform everyday tasks like walking, talking and thinking, Minelli said. Inhalant use typically leads to other drug use, such as marijuana and alcohol, which are more prevalent on college campuses.