Inhalant Addiction: Definition, Symptoms, Causes, Effects and Treatment

Inhalant addiction involves the intentional inhalation of vapors from household products to achieve intoxication. Despite being termed the “forgotten epidemic,” more than 22 million Americans age 12 and older have used inhalants, with over 750,000 first-time users annually.

Initially subtle, signs of inhalant addiction include increased secrecy, avoidance of social activities, and a decline in school or work performance. Physical signs might include unusual smells on breath or clothing, paint or other stains, and frequent solvent containers. Symptoms include dizziness, headaches, nausea, coordination problems, memory impairment, tremors, and hearing loss. Prolonged use can lead to severe mood disorders, anxiety, hallucinations, and delusions.

Inhalant use causes severe neurological damage, including memory loss and cognitive impairment, respiratory and cardiovascular issues like chronic bronchitis and heart palpitations, and organ damage due to oxygen deficiency and vitamin B12 depletion. Studies highlight muscle weakness severe enough to require hospitalization and irreversible neurological damage.

Treatment begins with detoxification to manage physical withdrawal, followed by behavioral therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to address addiction causes. Family therapy and support groups provide necessary support. Medications may be used for co-occurring mental health conditions. Recovery requires ongoing support and monitoring to prevent relapse.

Despite the high prevalence and serious toxicities, inhalant abuse remains under-researched. Continued efforts in research, treatment, and prevention are essential to address this critical public health issue.

What is Inhalant Addiction?

Inhalant addiction is the compulsive need to inhale substances that produce chemical vapors, which can alter the mind and create psychoactive effects despite the consequences of continued use. Intentional inhalation of vapors from household products to achieve intoxication common household, industrial, and medical products, including solvents (like paint thinners, nail polish remover), aerosol sprays (such as hairspray, deodorant), gases (used in medical anesthesia, nitrous oxide or “whippets”), and nitrites (often marketed as “poppers” or “room deodorizer”).

Among people aged 12 or older in 2021, 0.8% (or about 2.2 million people) reported using inhalants in the past 12 months (2021 DT 1.11) according to the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health*

Abusers may inhale vapors directly from a container, from a bag into which a substance has been placed, or from a rag soaked with a substance and then placed over the mouth or nose (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2000). Inhalants are often among the first drugs that young individuals experiment with, largely due to their accessibility, legal status, and the rapid onset of their effects. The substances work by depressing the central nervous system, leading to effects similar to alcohol intoxication, such as slurred speech, lack of coordination, euphoria, and dizziness. However, because the high from inhalants typically lasts only a few minutes, users may repeatedly inhale these substances over several hours to maintain their effects, increasing the risk of harmful consequences and addiction.

The repeated misuse of inhalants can lead to both physical and psychological dependence. Physical effects of long-term inhalant use include significant damage to the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys, as well as neurological impairment that can be permanent, including brain damage and nerve damage. Psychological effects include craving the substance, inability to stop using despite knowing the harm, and withdrawal symptoms upon cessation.

Inhalant addiction is particularly dangerous because of the high toxicity of the substances involved, which can lead to sudden sniffing death syndrome—a rapid, fatal heart failure caused by an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) induced by inhalant abuse. Other risks include suffocation, choking, and accidents due to impaired judgment and coordination. Treatment for inhalant addiction involves detoxification, behavioral therapies, and support to address both the physical and psychological aspects of the addiction.

What Are the Signs of Inhalant Addiction?

Physical Signs:

1. Persistent chemical smell on breath or clothing.
2. Residue of paint or substances around the nose, mouth, or hands.
3. Dizziness, loss of coordination, and unsteady walking.
4. Neglected personal hygiene and grooming.
5. Sudden weight loss and frequent nausea or vomiting.

Behavioral Signs:

1. Sudden mood swings, irritability, and symptoms of depression.
2. Withdrawal from friends and family; loss of interest in activities.
3. Decline in school or work performance.
4. Secretive or deceitful behavior to hide substance use.
5. Presence of inhalant paraphernalia (rags, bags, empty containers).

Recognizing these signs is crucial for early intervention and effective treatment of inhalant addiction.

What are the Types of Inhalants?

Inhalants can be classified into four main categories:

• Solvents: These include products like paint thinners, dry-cleaning fluids, gasoline, and lighter fluid. They are liquid at room temperature but vaporize when exposed to air.
• Aerosol Sprays: Common aerosols include spray paints, deodorant sprays, and hair spray. These products contain propellants and solvents that can be inhaled.
• Gasses: Found in products like whipped cream dispensers (nitrous oxide) often called whippets, butane lighters, and propane tanks. Medical anesthetics like ether, chloroform, and nitrous oxide also fall into this category. These types of gasses are also known as Whippets.
• Nitrites: Unlike other inhalants used primarily to alter mood, nitrites (such as amyl, butyl, and isobutyl nitrite) are used mainly as sexual enhancers. They are often labeled as room deodorizers or liquid aroma.

How Are Inhalants Used?

The methods of inhaling these substances vary. They include:

• Sniffing or Snorting: Inhaling directly from containers.
• Spraying: Aerosols are sprayed directly into the nose or mouth.
• Bagging: Substance is sprayed or deposited into a plastic or paper bag, and the vapors are then inhaled.
• Huffing from a Cloth: Substance-soaked rag is held to the face or stuffed in the mouth, and vapors are inhaled.

Can Huffing Lead to the Use of Other Substances?

Individuals who abuse inhalants may be more likely to use other substances, including alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs. This pattern is due to a variety of factors, including underlying vulnerabilities to substance use disorders, the social contexts in which substance abuse occurs, and the physiological effects of long-term inhalant abuse, which may lead to a broader search for psychoactive effects.

Can Huffing Be Fatal?

Huffing inhalants can be fatal, and deaths can occur from the first use or at any point during the abuse of inhalants. The cause of death can vary, including asphyxiation, suffocation, choking on vomit, accidents caused by impaired judgment or coordination, and sudden sniffing death syndrome due to cardiac arrest. The unpredictability of the chemical composition in inhaled substances and how one’s body reacts to them underscores the high risk of fatality associated with huffing.

What are whippets?

Whippets refer to the recreational use of nitrous oxide, a colorless, sweet-tasting gas that is commonly used for its psychoactive and pain-relieving effects. Nitrous oxide is found in small metal canisters, typically used in whipped cream dispensers for culinary purposes, hence the slang term “whippets.” When inhaled, nitrous oxide induces feelings of euphoria, relaxation, and laughter, along with mild hallucinations in some users, which is why it’s sometimes called “laughing gas.

When did Whippets become popular?

Whippets are popular because of how easily accessible it is to purchase canisters that contain nitrous oxide, the active ingredient in whippets. Nitrous oxide was first produced in 1790 by Joseph Priestly and was a reaction of different metals with nitric acid. However, it wasn’t until the 1800s that it was introduced as an intoxicant and medicine.

Because it had analgesic effects, nitrous oxide would become widely used as an anesthetic. But this substance could elicit euphoria amidst a series of other psychedelic effects that led to its popular use as a recreational drug. 19th-century gentlemen would inhale nitrous oxide at events that soon gained the moniker laughing gas parties.

Two centuries down the line, the substance is still very much useful to the field of medicine. Moreover, the bacteriostatic and tasteless qualities of this substance have led to it being used in the food industry, specifically for whipped cream chargers also known as whippets.

Whippets, because of how easy it is to get them, have become the major source of Nitrous Oxide for recreational purposes. 

Are Whippets Legal?

Nitrous oxide as a recreational drug has been illegal in all the States of the country since the Psychoactive Substances Act of 2016 was put in place. Some states have also banned the use of whippet cartridges in smoke shops while others are putting measures in place to initiate similar bans.

But people can still purchase these canisters legally at sex and smoke shops in the guise of using them to make whipped creams. Whipped cream canisters contain Nitrous Oxide and are easily available at any convenience store.

The recreational use of whippets involves releasing the gas from the canister into a balloon or directly into the mouth. While it is legal for culinary and medical use, its recreational inhalation poses health risks. Short-term effects include dizziness, lack of coordination, and disorientation. Long-term or heavy use can lead to vitamin B12 deficiency, neurological damage, and other health issues due to the gas displacing oxygen in the lungs and bloodstream. Inhalant abuse, including the use of whippets, is considered dangerous and can lead to sudden sniffing death syndrome, a fatal cardiac event.

What Are The Effects of Inhalant Addiction?

Inhalant addiction causes severe neurological damage, including memory loss and cognitive impairment; respiratory and cardiovascular issues, such as chronic bronchitis and heart palpitations; and organ damage and muscle atrophy due to oxygen deficiency and vitamin B12 depletion.

What Are The Treatment Options for Inhalant Addiction?

The comprehensive treatment for inhalant addiction addresses both the physical and psychological effects and symptoms while also establishing long term support systems and relapse prevention. The treatment options for inhalant addiction are listed below.

1. Neurological Effects:
   • Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps improve cognitive function by teaching patients strategies to manage thought processes and behaviors, potentially reversing some cognitive impairments.
   • Medical Detoxification: Manages withdrawal symptoms and prevents further neurological damage by safely eliminating inhalants from the body.
   • Medication: Prescribed to manage symptoms like tremors or seizures and to stabilize mood and cognitive function.
2. Respiratory Problems:
   • Medical Detoxification: Reduces the immediate harm to the respiratory system by discontinuing inhalant use under medical supervision.
   • Pulmonary Rehabilitation: Involves exercises and treatments to improve lung function and reduce respiratory distress.
   • Oxygen Therapy: Used to treat severe respiratory issues and enhance lung capacity.
3. Cardiovascular Issues:
   • Cardiovascular Monitoring: Continuous monitoring of heart function to detect and manage irregular heartbeats or heart palpitations.
   • Medications: Administered to stabilize heart rhythm and improve cardiovascular health.
   • Lifestyle Changes: Counseling to encourage healthy habits that support cardiovascular health.
4. Liver and Kidney Damage:
   • Medical Detoxification: Essential to stop the intake of toxic substances and allow the liver and kidneys to begin recovery.
   • Nutritional Support: Diet plans that support liver and kidney health, including adequate hydration and balanced nutrition.
   • Regular Monitoring: Frequent health check-ups to assess liver and kidney function and address any emerging issues promptly.
5. Psychiatric Disorders:
   • Individual and Group Counseling: Provides emotional support and helps address underlying mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.
   • Medication: Antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications to manage co-occurring psychiatric disorders.
   • Integrated Treatment Plans: Combining substance abuse treatment with mental health care to address both issues simultaneously.
6. Physical Appearance:
   • Nutritional Counseling: Helps improve overall health and physical appearance through balanced diet and hydration.
   • Dermatological Care: Treatments for skin conditions caused by inhalant use.
   • Overall Health Assessments: Regular check-ups to monitor and improve general physical health.
7. Dependency and Withdrawal:
   • Medically Supervised Detoxification: Safely manages withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, muscle cramps, agitation, and mood swings.
   • Behavioral Therapies: Helps patients understand and change behaviors related to addiction, reducing the risk of relapse.
   • Support Groups: Provides ongoing support and encouragement, helping individuals maintain sobriety and manage cravings.

Effective treatment for inhalant addiction involves a multi-faceted approach that addresses the specific effects and symptoms of the addiction. Medical detoxification, behavioral therapies, medication, counseling, and support groups work together to combat the physical and psychological damage caused by inhalant use. This comprehensive strategy helps individuals recover and rebuild their health and well-being, leading to a sustained recovery and improved quality of life.