Inhalant Use Disorder: What It Is, Symptoms & Treatment

inhalant abuse symptoms

People with inhalant use disorder can recover and lead full lives. According to the DSM-5, healthcare providers can diagnose inhalant use disorder when the repeated use of inhalants leads to significant distress or impairment, or when a problematic pattern of being intoxicated develops. Chronic inhalant users may psychologically dependent on the drug.

A CBT therapist may also address any psychiatric disorders that may result from use (such as an inhalant-induced psychotic disorder). Seeking help for inhalant addiction can be an important first phase in recovery from substance abuse. Rehab programs are located throughout the U.S. and offer a variety of treatment types. American Addiction Centers (AAC) is a leading treatment provider and has trusted rehab facilities across the country. If you’d like to learn more about inhalant addiction treatment with us, please contact AAC free at .

Inhalant use can put your child at greater risk of being injured or in an accident. This is especially true if your child tries to drive while high on an inhalant. People who abuse inhalants are more likely to use alcohol and other drugs.

Teenagers often try inhalants before they try alcohol, cigarettes, or other drugs. Therapy sessions are offered over video conferencing, messaging, or phone calls. The short-term and long-term health effects can be devastating or even deadly.

inhalant abuse symptoms

Inhalant Addiction: Signs, Effects, and Treatment

The use of inhalants for intoxication is not common in the general population, occurring in about 0.8 percent of all Americans over the age of 12. But its prevalence is higher among younger adults, and especially in people between 12 and 17. According to 2020 research from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, in the prior 12 months, about 6 percent of American eighth-graders had used inhalants, along with 3 percent of tenth-graders and 1 percent of twelfth-graders. The institute estimates that 12.6 percent of current American eighth-graders will use inhalants at least once in their lifetime. However, only about 0.4 percent of adolescents progress to inhalant use disorder. Inhalants are made from dangerous chemicals that no one should be exposed to over a period time.

  1. Some users lose weight, have difficulty concentrating and suffer from depression.
  2. The author recommends more education for physicians, children, parents, and teachers.
  3. The en­hanced toxicity of certain volatile inhalants, such as butane or propane, can increase the risk of fatality.
  4. Chronic inhalant users will suffer from muscle weakness and clumsiness.
  5. Staging an intervention could be a good way to persuade someone with an addiction that they need help.

Chronic abuse of inhalants can be incredibly destructive; abusing the paint-dissolving chemical toluene, for instance, may produce gas-x and alcohol interaction neurological symptoms strikingly similar to multiple sclerosis. Your child may need to see a counselor or attend a support or rehab program. The emergency and referral resources listed above are available to individuals located in the United States and are not operated by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

ADHD in Children: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Support

You will speak with a caring admissions navigator who can provide further information and help you understand your options. Use tends to decline, often dramatically, in people as they emerge from adolescence and progress through their 20s. But those who develop inhalant use disorder that extends into adulthood often face severe problems, including sometimes multiple substance use disorders, antisocial personality disorder, and sui­cidal ideation with attempts.

What are inhalants?

A licensed therapist can be a powerful partner in learning to manage emotions and change thoughts and behaviors. In addition, they can offer support through education on stress management, healthy lifestyle habits, and improving self-esteem. If you or a loved one is struggling with inhalant abuse or addiction, American Addiction Centers can help. Our programs offer treatment options ranging from detox to aftercare—and everything in between. Contact our admissions navigators, who are available 24/7 to answer your questions and help support you as you take your first steps toward recovery. Emergency treatment of an inhalant alcohol storage ideas overdose involves treating the life-threatening event that occurs as the result of the overdose — like stopping the seizure or restarting the heart.

Inhalants are breathed in through the mouth (commonly known as huffing) or sniffed or snorted through the nose; the high that users experience typically lasts only for a few minutes. Although addiction to inhalants is not common, exposure to inhalants can have long-term effects as chemicals remain in the body, potentially causing damage to the kidneys and liver, as well as nerve fibers and brain cells. Treatment for an addiction to inhalants may include behavioral therapy, support groups, 12-step programs, or inpatient rehabilitation programs. The type of treatment that is appropriate for each individual depends on the extent of their addiction and any underlying mental conditions. Repeated inhalant abuse can have serious consequences on a person’s long-term physical and mental health. These effects are quite serious and can be life-threatening because of the way the chemicals in inhalants can build up in the fatty tissue of major vital organs.

Read More About Inhalants

Users abuse volatile solvents, aerosol sprays, nitrites and gases to get “high.” Each time a users “huffs” or sober house boston inhales the chemical, they risk death, brain damage, and other permanent damage to their bodies. When they inhale or “huff” the inhalant they are using, they almost immediately feel intoxicated and experience effects similar to a drunken state. Inhalant use and inhalant intoxication1 can also be more dangerous than other drugs because, depending on the compound, death can occur even after one session of inhaling (via sudden sniffing death). Inhalant use disorder does not refer to the unintentional inhalation of these compounds or even to one experimental intentional use by an individual. Inhalant use disorder is the continued use of such inhalants over time.