8th Grade Wellness

Inhalant Abuse

What are

Inhalants?Inhalants are dangerous chemical substances that are inhaled for the purpose of altering one’s perception of the environment, or ‘getting high’.

Inhalants include many common household items

Inhalants are generally inexpensive and easy to obtain.

Table Partner Activity

• Discuss and list some common inhalants that are most often abused.

• Think to the video we watched about inhalants to get some ideas.

Paint thinner

Paint Remover

Dry-Cleaning Fluids

Gasoline

Glues

Correction Fluids,

Felt-Tip Markers

Spray Paints

Deodorant

Hair Sprays

Vegetable Oil Sprays

Fabric Protector Spray

Chloroform

Nitrous Oxide

Whipped Cream Cans

Butane Lighters

Propane Tanks

Refrigerants

Leather Cleaner

Room Deodorizer

Food Preservatives

Types of Inhalants

Liquids Aerosols NitritesGases

• A 2008 survey found that 14.9% of 8th graders, 12.3% of 10th graders and 9.5% of 12th graders had abused inhalants at least once in the previous year.

• 75% of inhalant abusers were under 18 when they first started using inhalants

• Males and females are equally likely to abuse inhalants.

• Teenagers who abuse inhalants tend to come from higher income families and are often perceived as good kids.

Street Names for Inhalant Abuse

Air Blast Ames Amys Aroma of Men Huff Boppers Bullet Bolt Buzz Bomb

Discorama Hardware Hippie Crack Hiagra in a Bottle Highball Moon Gas

Thrust SnappersHeart-on Medusa Spray PearlsWhiteout Poppers Snotballs Shoot the

Breeze WhippetsTexas Shoe Shine Toilet Water

Satan’s Secret Poor Man’s Pot Quicksilver Rush Snappers Laughing Gas Locker Room

BaggingInhaling fumes from a substance placed inside of a bag

HuffingInhaling substances soaked into a rag

BalloonsInhaling a substances placed inside of a balloon

Sniffing/SnortingInhaling fumes from a container

SprayingSpraying inhalant directly into the nose/mouth

How are Inhalants Used?

Table Partner Activity

• Discuss and list some of the short-term responses to inhalant use.

• Think to the video we watched about inhalants to get some ideas.

Short-Term Responseto Inhalant Use

Slight Stimulation/Euphoria

Drowsiness

Loss of Consciousness

DeathHallucinations

Lowered Inhibitions

Blurry Vision

Inhalants may cause the heart to become highly sensitive to the effects of adrenaline.

is heart failure resulting from an irregular heartbeat, usually caused by stress or

strenuous activity after using inhalants.

Death can result any time a person uses inhalants; even the first time.

Inhaled chemicals replace oxygen in the bloodstream which may result in

death.

Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome

Asphyxiation

SSDS

The Impact ofInhalant AbuseOn the Body

The Truth About InhalantsPlease click on this link to open the video.

http://www.nida.nih.gov/ResearchReports/Inhalants/Inhalants.html

Signs of Inhalant Abuse• Slurred Speech• Nausea/Loss of

Appetite• Irritability• Paint or Other

Unusual Stains on Face or Clothing

• Inattentiveness• Red Eyes, Runny

Nose

• Depression• Lack of

Coordination• Anxiety• Restlessness• Acting Drunk or

Disoriented• Empty Chemical

Containers in Trash

TREATMENT

• Medical Intervention• Detailed history of substances abused.• Identification and treatment of medical problems that resulted

from inhalant abuse.

• Psychotherapy• Inhalant abusers may have psychological conditions, such as low

self-esteem and depression, which have not been properly treated in the past.

• It is important to identify mental health needs and develop a therapy plan to address the underlying problems that may have led to inhalant abuse. Relapse

• Education on the dangers of inhalant abuse

• Enlist family support .

• Encouragement to form new friendships and avoidance of peers who abuse inhalants.

Treatment approaches for inhalant

abusers must be tailored to

meet their unique needs.

A good treatment

program for anyone with an inhalant

abuse problem includes:

For More Information:

For Support:

• http://www.drugabuse.gov/PDF/RRinhalants.pdf

• http://www.inhalant.org/media/kit.php

• http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/Stats.html

• http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Inhalant-Abuse/support-group

• http://www.rehabtreatment.info/albany-outpatient.htm

References:

http://www.nida.nih.gov/ResearchReports/Inhalants/Inhalants.html

http://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/inhalants.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBhydk4lM7w

http://www.inhalants.org/Inhalants_March2003.pdf

http://www.aota.org/Archive/PrArchive/2008Releases/SubstanceAbuse.aspx