Inhalant Addiction Recovery Guide

Inhalant addiction and inhalant abuse is a practice that is steadily rising among the youth and teenage population of the United States. Inhalants are volatile chemical vapors that are inhaled through the nose and mouth, and produce mind-altering effects. Many inhalants are composed of household or office substances and can include spray paint, noxious glues and cleaning supplies. Inhalants are often the very first drug a school aged child will use, however it can carry over into adulthood as well.

People suffering from inhalant abuse will use any type of substance available, so long as it produces inhalant high effect. Inhalants fall into four different categories and include the following:

• Solvents: industrial or household cleaning products such as paint thinner, turpentine, degreaser, dry-cleaning fluid, nail polish remover, glues, gasoline, felt-tip marker ink, electronics cleaners, correction fluids and art supply solvents.


• Nitrites: organic nitrates such as butyl, amyl nitrate and cyclohexyl.


• Aerosols: can include aerosol computer keyboard cleaners, vegetable oil sprays, hair spray, spray deodorant, spray paint and other types of propellant and aerosol cleaners.


• Gases: gases used for household and commercial products such as butane lighters, propane/BBQ grill tanks, whipped cream cans, refrigerant gases, and medical anesthesia gases such as chloroform, ether, halothane and nitrous oxide.

Some people with an inhalant addiction are among the most difficult rehabilitation patients to treat. Because inhalants are so easily and readily available, the rates of addiction and abuse have risen quickly and dramatically. Many inhalant addicts suffer from cognitive impairment and other forms of neurological disorders.

People with an inhalant addiction use the vapors by breathing them in orally, sniffing the fumes out of a container, spraying the chemicals directly into the mouth, filling up a plastic bag full of the inhalant and sniffing, stuffing an inhalant soaked rag into the mouth or by sucking on balloons filled with the inhalant. Inhalants are readily absorbed into the bloodstream and lungs and quickly spread to other parts of the body like the brain and central nervous system. An inhalant high user will experience a "rush" or high almost immediately after use which is what makes inhalants so addictive and appealing.

A person with inhalant addiction will experience alcohol-like effects such as slurred speech, balance disturbance, euphoria, dizziness, and lightheadedness. Because the high does not last long, the user will need to use the inhalant more frequently to maintain the feeling. With excessive use of inhalants a person can slip into a coma and die. Users have reported feeling strong urges to continue using inhalants which makes the risk for inhalant addiction a very real possibility.

Inhalant abuse can cause heart failure and death within minutes of a session of heavy use. The problem is real and should never be dismissed as unserious. Treatment for inhalant addiction is more based around breaking the patterns of behavior that lead someone to use. Other modalities could include counseling and therapy as well that are available at Christian drug treatment centers.

If you or someone you love is suffering from an inhalant addiction, remember there is help available from professional and reliable Christian drug rehab and alcohol treatment center. Please contact the Transformation Treatment Center admissions office today.

Transformation Treatment Center, a leading popular Christian drug treatment center also offers treatments for Opiate, Cocaine, Lortab, Ritalin, Rohypnol, and other addiction problems.