While inhalants are less addicting as stronger illicit drugs and opioids they do pose some serious threats to the body and brain.
What are inhalants?
The phrase “inhalants” refers to a range of common household products across the United States that can be abused to reach a condition of stupefaction or euphoria. These products include:
- Replica glue
- Nail polish remover
- Gas
- Spray paint
- Cooking spray
- Correction liquids
- Cleaning solutions
These products contain the following chemicals or gases:
- Butane
- Propane
- Fluorocarbons
- Ethyl chloride
- Acetone
- Nitrous oxide
To abuse, the inhalants, called “huffing”, the user either spraying them into the nose or by soaking a piece of fabric and then holding it up to the face and breathing it in.
Short and long term inhalant abuse effects
There are both short and long term effects of inhalant abuse. The short term effects of huffing are usually felt within seconds and are gone in just a few minutes. These include:
- Incoherent speech
- Dexterity problems
- Mental alteration
- Bewilderment and misunderstanding
- Wooziness
- Faintness
- Queasiness
The long term effects of chronic inhalant abuse include:
- Mind injury
- Harm to liver and kidney
- Recollection shortfall
- Convulsions and spasms
- Eye and hearing impairment
Continued abuse of inhalants can make some of these effects permanent.
What are the effects of inhalants
While most inhalants cause a drunken effect, others cause one or more of the following:
- Faintness
- Energy burst
- Head rush
- Reduced decision making
- Warped awareness
- Laughing
- Dexterity loss
- Garbled speech
These effects usually only last a few minutes, which is the reason many abuse inhalants. They have to keep doing them in order to reach these effects. It can also lead to overdose and death.
Recovery from inhalant abuse
If you have decided you want to stop inhalant abuse or addiction there is hope. Recovery is possible.
When you find the right treatment and recovery clinic you will learn how to deal with cravings, stress, and other aspects of drug abuse and addiction.
Withdrawal symptoms of inhalants include:
- Perspiring
- Appetite loss
- Shakes
- Upset stomach
- Inability to sleep
- Nervousness
- Mood swings or changes
- Delusions
- Seizures
Inhalant abuse and addiction recovery can be done by either in-patient or out-patient therapy. It will depend on the severity of abuse and if there are any underlying issues that caused the abuse to start with.
Here is what you can expect with therapy for inhalants:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Motivational incentives
Remember those are just for inhalant abuse and if you have underlying issues those will also need to be dealt with by working through them either in one-on-one or in group therapy.
At 449 Recovery we offer constant monitoring of detox, family therapy, group therapy, one on one therapy, and more. We will help you learn the tools you need to reduce your chances of relapse. Call us today (855) 435-7449 to gain more insight into our all-inclusive drug addiction treatment program. It is our goal at 449 Recovery to provide you the best recovery.