Most homes, schools, and work sites have several of these substances on the premises. Users report a feeling of well being, reduced inhibitions, and mood elevation. In general, the effects are very similar to the effects of alcohol or other depressants. The duration of effect is about five minutes to one hour. At higher doses, effects may include laughing, giddiness, feelings of bloating, dizziness, time and space distortion.
Users inhale the substance on a rag or concentrate the vapors and inhale from a plastic bag.
However, they will recover more quickly than with alcohol. They may also have a chemical breath, teary, glazed, or reddened eyes. A regular user may have a cough, shake and walk unsteadily, and show weight loss. Some users may have frequent headaches, nausea, confusion, and vomiting. Volatile hydrocarbons have a host of long-term effects, including organic brain dysfunction, liver, cardiovascular, and kidney problems, weight loss and malnutrition, anemia, and lead poisoning.