Inhalants
What are they?
Inhalants are chemicals found in common household, school, or workplace products that some people breathe in to feel “high.” This is sometimes called “huffing.” These products release fumes that can quickly affect the brain. The effects usually last only a few minutes, which can lead people to repeat use. This pattern is especially dangerous because inhalants can harm the brain and body even after short or single use.
Inhalants include four main groups:
- Volatile solvents (like glue, paint thinner, gasoline)
- Aerosols (like spray paint or deodorant)
- Gases (like nitrous oxide or lighter gas)
- Nitrites (sometimes called “poppers”)
People may sniff, spray, or breathe fumes through a cloth or bag. Inhalant use is most common among young people, but anyone can be affected. Inhalants affect the central nervous system and can quickly slow breathing, thinking, and movement. Even brief use can be very dangerous and may lead to serious short- and long-term health effects.
How they work
Inhalants are quickly absorbed through the lungs and travel rapidly to the brain. They mainly slow down the central nervous system, which controls breathing, movement, thinking, and awareness.
They disrupt normal brain activity and interfere with how nerve cells send and receive signals. This can create a fast “high,” but it also quickly affects coordination, judgment, and breathing.
Inhalants can also reduce the amount of oxygen reaching the brain and other organs. This can lead to a dangerous condition called hypoxia (low oxygen in the body).
The effects can vary from person to person. They depend on things like the type of inhalant, how much is used, someone’s health, whether other substances are used at the same time, and how much fresh air is available while using.
People may repeat use over a short period of time because inhalants act very quickly and wear off within minutes. This increases the risk of serious harm, even from a single use.
Short-term effects
Inhalants can cause effects within seconds to minutes, including:
- Confusion or trouble thinking clearly
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Euphoria or feeling “high”
- Hallucinations
- Nausea or headaches
- Red or runny nose, eyes, or throat irritation
- Skin rashes
- Slowed reaction time and risky behavior
- Slurred speech and poor coordination
Some people may lose consciousness. Even one use can be dangerous. This is sometimes called “sudden sniffing death,” which can happen without warning.
“Sudden sniffing death” is a type of cardiac arrest, meaning the heart suddenly stops beating normally. It’s usually caused by dangerous heart rhythm changes (arrhythmias) triggered by inhalants.
It can happen to anyone, even young, otherwise healthy people. You do not need to have a pre-existing heart condition.
Long-term effects
Frequent use can lead to serious health problems, including:
- Brain damage and learning problems
- Dependence
- Hearing or vision problems
- Heart, liver, and kidney damage
- Loss of smell
- Memory loss and trouble focusing
- Mood changes like irritability or depression
- Tolerance (needing more to feel the same effects)
- Weight loss and tiredness
In severe cases, long-term use can lead to coma or death.
Inhalant use during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of birth defects, preterm delivery, and spontaneous abortion.
Impacts on mental health
Inhalant use can affect mood and thinking. Some people feel depressed, anxious, or irritable after use. Over time, repeated use can make it harder to concentrate or manage emotions.
Inhalant use can also become hard to stop. Some people develop strong cravings or feel like they need to keep using even when it causes problems at school, work, or home.
If inhalant use is affecting your mental health, support is available. You can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to talk with someone anytime.
FAQ's
Are inhalants addictive?
Are inhalants addictive?
Yes. Some people develop inhalant use disorder. Repeated use can change how the brain’s reward system works, making it hard to stop. People may develop tolerance (needing more to get the same effect) and may feel withdrawal-like symptoms when they stop using inhalants.
Can inhalants cause overdose?
Can inhalants cause overdose?
Yes. Inhalant intoxication usually lasts only a few minutes, which can lead people to inhale again and again over a short period of time to keep the “high” going. This pattern of repeated use is very dangerous and can quickly lead to loss of consciousness, heart problems, or death.
One serious risk is a condition called “sudden sniffing death.” This can happen after just one use, even in someone who is otherwise healthy. It is most often linked to gases like propane, butane, and chemicals found in aerosols. It happens when inhalants affect the heart and cause it to stop beating suddenly, without warning.
Overdose and death can also happen when the body is deprived of oxygen. This can occur in a few ways:
- Repeated inhaling can push out oxygen in the lungs, making it harder to breathe.
- Breathing fumes from a bag placed over the head can block air from getting in (suffocation).
- Inhaling substances can also cause nausea and vomiting, which can lead to choking.
Why are inhalants so dangerous?
Why are inhalants so dangerous?
They can cut off oxygen to the brain and heart. This can cause sudden death even in healthy people.
Are inhalants legal?
Are inhalants legal?
Many inhalants are legal household products but using them to get high is dangerous and not safe.
What should I do if someone is having a bad reaction?
What should I do if someone is having a bad reaction?
Call 911 right away. Move the person to fresh air if it is safe and stay with them until help arrives. Inhalant emergencies can become life-threatening very quickly.