Inhalant use disorder, also known as inhalant addiction or inhalant abuse, is when you become addicted to inhaling certain fumes and gases. In most cases, these fumes and gases are from household or work products, including paint, paint thinner, nail polish, air conditioning refrigerant, glue, gasoline, and much more. Essentially, anything that solvents, aerosols, gas, hydrocarbons, or nitrates can get abused as an inhalant.
Inhalant use disorder does not occur after accidentally inhaling fumes on one occasion. Instead, it’s when someone repeatedly inhales those fumes in order to feel high or intoxicated. Inhalant use disorder is extremely dangerous because the materials that people inhale are extremely toxic and can lead to illness or death. Inhalant use disorder is most common among young people in their teens or pre-teens or among those who are unable to afford other drugs.
In most cases, the signs and symptoms of inhalant use disorder are not readily obvious. You cannot simply assume that everyone who inhales fumes and chemicals has the disorder because that would include all painters, drywallers, and most construction workers. Instead, the main sign of addiction is when someone seeks out chemicals and solvents specifically to inhale the fumes and gases it contains. Here are a few other signs of inhalant use disorder.
It can be tough for someone to know when they’re addicted to inhalants, so it’s often up to their friends and family to take care of them.
Inhalant use disorder is caused by repeatedly inhaling gases, solvents, and other chemicals specifically for the purpose of getting high or intoxicated. These chemicals release endorphins in the brain that give people temporary feelings of euphoria or relaxation. It can happen to anyone at any age but is most common among young people between the ages of 12 and 20.
Inhalant use disorder can also happen in adults who frequently work with chemicals and do not wear respirators or protective gear. While uncommon, repeatedly accidentally inhaling chemicals can also lead to inhalant use disorder. However, the condition is most common in young men and women who start using inhalants at a young age without understanding how dangerous they are.
Because the chemicals and gases in inhalants do not show up on a drug screening, the only way to diagnose inhalant use disorder is by observation. Based on a person’s symptoms and how reliant they are on inhalants, most doctors can formulate a diagnosis. Inhalant use disorder is especially obvious if the person using inhalants starts to display physical and mental side effects of the chemicals they’re inhaling.
Luckily, most people will recover from inhalant use disorder before it can do too much physical and mental damage. Typically, treatment will involve the following things.
Cognitive behavioural therapy and support groups are a good way to work through inhalant use disorder and to help you realize that it’s a problem.
Counselling will be necessary, both to initially withdraw from inhalants and to keep from relapsing in the future.
It’s likely that medications will be necessary to treat any conditions that inhalant use disorder causes. Medications can also help wean a person off of inhalants if they’re extremely addicted.
Inhalant use disorder is easier to overcome than other drug addictions because inhalants are not quite as addictive. However, they’re extremely dangerous because of the health problems they can cause and because they can lead to heavier drug use.