“IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE ON DRUGS, TALK TO THEM…SOMETIMES THEY JUST NEED TO KNOW THERE IS STILL SOMEONE WHO CARES.”
Inhalants are simply toxic chemical vapors. Sniff, huff or inhale these chemicals and you can easily damage your
brain — or shut it down forever.
AKA
Laughing gas, poppers, snappers, whippets
WHAT IS IT?
Inhalants are highly toxic substances that produce dangerous chemical vapors. When inhaled, these chemicals can cause damaging, mind-altering effects and sudden death. The three main types of inhalants are: solvents, gases and nitrates. Inhalants can be found in a range of products, like paint thinners, glues, cleaning products, gases, lighter fluids and aerosol sprays.
THE RISKS
Since the “high” feeling of inhalants lasts only a few minutes, people often use them over and over, which is extremely dangerous. “Sudden sniffing death” can happen to a completely healthy young person from a single session of inhalant use.
Inhalants produce effects similar to those of anesthesia. They slow the body down, produce a numbing feeling and can cause unconsciousness. Inhaling concentrated amounts of these chemicals can cause heart failure, suffocation, convulsions, seizures and coma.
LONG-TERM EFFECTS
Inhalants go through the lungs and into the bloodstream, and are quickly distributed to the brain and other organs in the body.Ongoing exposure to inhalants can lead to brain or nerve damage that produces results similar to that of multiple sclerosis. Inhalants can also do damage to the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys. Prolonged abuse can permanently affect thinking, movement, vision and hearing.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Inhalants can be damaging to both your body and brain. The dangerous effects can be irreversible, and the truth is, when you inhale or “huff” one of these toxic chemicals, you can die instantly — even the very first time.
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