Inhalant Abuse in Kentucky

1
Inhalant Abuse in Kentucky

• Broad Issues for Consideration by the SPF- SIG
  Strategic Planning and Related Committees
• Developed by
• SPF SIG Data Analysis Committee

2
Onset

• First use usually occurs between late childhood
  and early adolescence.
• Accessibility, low cost, and inconspicuousness
  often make inhalants one of the first substances
  abused.

3
Onset (cont.)

• Inhalant abuse is considered a gateway drug,
  and is connected to the use of multiple illicit
  drugs and IV drug use.
• Adolescents in juvenile detention facilities
  appear to be at particularly high risk of
  starting inhalant use early and using multiple
  drugs.
• Source Wu, Pilowsky, Schlenger, 2004

4
National Comparison

• According to the National 2003 Youth Risk
  Behavior Surveillance Survey, 12.1 of high
  school students have sniffed glue, breathed the
  contents of aerosol spray cans, or inhaled any
  paints or sprays to get high at least once in
  their lifetime, compared to 14 of Kentucky high
  school students .

5
2004 Kentucky Incentives for Prevention (KIP)
Survey

• On how many occasions (if any) have you sniffed
  glue, breathed the contents of an aerosol spray
  can, or inhaled other gases or sprays, in order
  to get high in your lifetime?
• 1-2 occasions
• 7 of 6th graders
• 9 of 8th graders
• 8 of 10th graders
• 6 of 12th graders

6
2004 Kentucky Incentives for Prevention (KIP)
Survey

• On how many occasions (if any) have you sniffed
  glue, breathed the contents of an aerosol spray
  can, or inhaled other gases or sprays, in order
  to get high in the past 12 months?
• 1-2 occasions
• 3 of 6th graders
• 6 of 8th graders
• 4 of 10th graders
• 3 of 12th graders

7
2004 Kentucky Incentives for Prevention (KIP)
Survey

• On how many occasions (if any) have you sniffed
  glue, breathed the contents of an aerosol spray
  can, or inhaled other gases or sprays, in order
  to get high in the past 30 days?
• 1-2 occasions
• 2 of 6th graders
• 4 of 8th graders
• 2 of 10th graders
• 1 of 12th graders

8
Inhalant Administration

• There are more than a thousand different
  household and commercial products that comprise
  the term inhalants. These products can be
  intentionally abused by sniffing or huffing(the
  act of inhaling through ones mouth.)
• Products like rubber cement or correction fluid
  are sniffed or huffed directly from their
  containers. Alternately, users may sniff fumes
  from plastic bags over the head, or sniff a cloth
  saturated with the substance.
• Other modes of administration include direct
  inhalation from an aerosol can or a balloon
  filled with nitrous oxide and inhaling
  intoxicated vapors from a heated substance.

9
Common Inhalants

• The most commonly used inhalants are
• Glue
• Shoe Polish
• Gasoline
• Source McGarvey et al., 1999

10
Other Commonly Abused Products

• Adhesives
• Model airplane glue, rubber cement, household
  glue.
• Aerosols
• Spray paint, hair spray, air freshener,
  deodorant, fabric protector.
• Anesthetics
• Nitrous oxide, ether, chloroform.
• Cleaning agents
• Dry cleaning fluid, spot remover, degreaser.
• Food products
• Vegetable cooking spray, dessert topping spray
  (whipped cream), whippets nitrous oxide).
• Gases
• Nitrous oxide, butane, propane, helium.
• Solvents and gases
• Nail polish remover, paint thinner, paint
  remover, typing correction fluid and thinner,
  toxic markers, pure toluene, toluol, cigar
  lighter fluid, gasoline, carburetor cleaner,
  octane booster.
• Source National Inhalant Prevention Coalition.

11
Kentucky Admissions to Drug Treatment

• 29 admissions for inhalant abuse in 2001
• 30 admissions for inhalant abuse in 2002
• 46 admissions for inhalant abuse in 2003
• Source Office of National Drug Control Policy,
  State of Kentucky Profile of Drug Indicators,
  August 2004.

12
Demographics of Users

• Several studies have found that, nationally,
  among all American racial/ethnic groups, African
  Americans are least likely to use inhalants,
  while American Indians are most likely to use
  inhalants.
• Source Wu, Pilowsky, Schlenger, 2004

13
Withdrawal

• Continued inhalant use causes tolerance to the
  inhalant, and physical withdrawal symptoms may
  develop within several hours to a few days after
  discontinuation.
• Withdrawal symptoms include
• Sweating
• Rapid pulse
• Hand tremors
• Insomnia
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Physical agitation
• Anxiety
• Hallucinations
• Grand Mal Seizures

14
Street Terms for Inhalants

• Air blastAmes (amyl nitrite)Amys (amyl
  nitrite)Aroma of men (isobutyl nitrite)Bagging
  (using inhalants)Bolt (isobutyl nitrite)Boppers
  (amyl nitrite)Buzz bomb (nitrous oxide)Climax
  (isobutyl nitrite)DiscoramaGlading (using
  inhalant)Gluey (one who sniffs or inhales
  glue)Hardware (isobutyl nitrite)Hippie
  crackHoney oilHuffHuffing (sniffing an
  inhalant)

• KickLaughing gas (nitrous oxide)MedusaMoon
  gasOzPearls (amyl nitrite)Poor man's
  potPoppers (isobutyl nitrite, amyl
  nitrite)Quicksilver (isobutyl nitrite)Rush
  (isobutyl nitrite)Shoot the breeze (nitrous
  oxide)Snappers (isobutyl nitrite)Snorting
  (using inhalant)Thrust (isobutyl nitrite)Toncho
  (octane booster)Whippets (nitrous
  oxide)Whiteout (isobutyl nitrite)
  
• Source Drug Policy Information Clearinghouse.

15
Signs of Use

• Slurred speech
• Drunk, dizzy, or dazed appearance
• Unusual breath odor
• Chemical smell on clothing
• Paint stains on clothing, body or face
• Red eyes
• Runny nose
• Spots or sores around the mouth
• Loss of appetite
• Excitability or irritability
• Source Tips for Teens The Truth About
  Inhalants, Substance Abuse and Mental Health
  Services Administration (SAMHSA), 2000

16
Effects

• Effects of inhalant abuse are similar to
  drunkenness.
• Inhalation causes the body to become starved of
  oxygen, forcing the heart to beat more rapidly in
  an attempt to increase the flow of blood to the
  brain.
• Stimulation, loss of inhibition, and distorted
  perception of reality and spatial relations may
  be experienced by the user.
• Source ONDCP Inhalant Fact Sheet, 2001

17
Effects (cont.)

• Other effects of inhalant use include short-term
  memory loss, hearing loss, limb spasms, permanent
  brain damage, bone marrow damage, liver and
  kidney damage, death, and possible fetal effects
  similar to fetal alcohol syndrome.
• Inhalant use is associated with delinquency,
  depression, and suicidal behavior.
• Source Wu, Pilowsky, Schlenger, 2004

18
Effects (cont.)

• Following the initial reaction (sometimes
  referred to as a head rush), a sense of
  lethargy may arise as the body attempts to
  restabilize the flow of blood to the brain.
• Repeated intoxication over a few hours is
  possible because of the chemicals short acting,
  rapid onset effect.
• Many users experience headaches, nausea or
  vomiting, slurred speech, loss of motor
  coordination, and wheezing.
• Source ONDCP Inhalant Fact Sheet, 2001

19
Behavioral Consequences

• There is a correlation between inhalant abuse and
  problems in school such as failing grades, memory
  loss, learning problems, chronic absences, and
  general apathy.
• Inhalant users tend to be disruptive, deviant, or
  delinquent due to the early onset of use, lack of
  physical and emotional maturity, and the physical
  consequences that occur from extended use.
• Source ONDCP Inhalant Fact Sheet, 2001

20
Issues

• According to a study by Wu et al., 2004,
  inhalants are one of the least researched or
  discussed groups of abused substances.
• A University of Kentucky study found that 9 out
  of 10 parents do not believe that their child
  would use an inhalant.