It does not refer to snorting cocaine or smoking substances such as tobacco, marijuana, crack cocaine or opium. There are over 1,000 common household, school, and industrial products that can be abused, including solvents, solvent-based products, gases, fuels, and aerosols. Studies by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health show that all youth are at risk for inhalant abuse. After eighth grade use tends to decrease.
Some inhalant users report experimentation as early as the third or fourth grade.
Inhalants may be used alone or with a small group of peers. They are attractive to children because they are easy to obtain, free or inexpensive, difficult to detect, and many adults are not aware of the problem and don't take use seriously. Inhalants produce an effect within seconds that may last from fifteen to forty-five minutes. These substances generally act as central nervous system depressants. After an initial euphoria, a depressed state follows that can be accompanied by sleepiness or sleep.