INHALANTS

1
INHALANTS

• Synthetic
• Chemical gases sniffed or inhaled for the purpose
  of getting intoxicated (depletes body of O2)
• 3 basic groups
• Anesthetics depressants
• Vasodilating nitrates
• Solvents

2
Inhalants and school

• Common link between inhalant abuse and
• problems in school
• Failing grades
• Memory loss
• Learning problems
• Chronic absences
• General apathy
• Inhalant users tend to be
• Disruptive
• Delinquent
• Deviant
• Because of
• Early onset of use
• Lack emotional and physical maturation
• Consequences of use

3
Inhalant effects

• Acute (Immediate)
• Stimulation
• Loss of inhibitions
• Distorted sense of reality
• Senses become depressed
• Lethargy ensues (heart trying to stabilize blood
  flow to the brain)

• Soon after
• Nausea
• Headaches
• Vomiting
• Slurred speech
• Loss of coordination
• wheezing

4
Long term effects

• Deafness
• Leukemia
• Brain damage personality changes, memory
  impairment, hallucinations, loss of coordination,
  slurred speech
• Kidney stones
• Fatty tissue gathering in liver
• Damaged lungs impaired breathing
• Muscle wasting, reduced tone and strength
• Numbness, tingling, paralysis
• Severe rash around the nose and mouth
• SSD sudden sniffing death (arrhythmias heart
  failure)

5
Withdrawls - Inhalants

• Can occur hours or days after last use
• Sweating
• Rapid pulse
• Hand tremors
• Insomnia
• Nausea

• Vomiting
• Physical agitation
• Anxiety
• Hallucinations
• Grand mal seizures