Solvents and Inhalants
Aerosols, glue, cans or gas, paint thinner, nail polish remover, lighter fuel, Tip-Ex thinner...
Chemical name: Volatile Substances
Drug effect: Depressant
What are they?
Solvents are a drug often experimented with by teenagers. Solvent misuse is the deliberate inhalation of gases, chemical fumes or vapors in order to get a "high" or "buzz" similar to the intoxication produced by alcohol. The fluid can be inhaled from a soaked cloth or directly from the can. Many common household and industrial products, which are perfectly safe when used correctly, can be abused.
The four main categories are:
- Adhesives and thinners (glues, paint thinners, nail polish remover).
- Dry cleaning Products (dry-cleaning fluids, paint stripper, typewriter correcting fluid and thinners, printing industry solvents, shoe dyes and conditioners).
- Aerosols (hair lacquer, room and body deodorant sprays, paints, painkilling and insect sprays).
- Fuels (petrol, lighter fuel, domestic and camping gas cylinders).
Effects - what happens when you take solvents:
• The experience is like being intensely drunk for a short period. Breathing and heart rate are depressed. Users often feel dizzy, giggly and dreamy and can become aggressive. Some users can feel nervous, may vomit, hallucinate, experience blackouts, tiredness and lack of concentration. The effects are short lived. Like alcohol you get a hangover afterwards.
Risks
• Abusing gases, aerosols or glue can cause sudden death, even on the first go. This is because breathing and heart rate are reduced and compromised.
• Substances sprayed into the mouth may cause fluid to flood the lungs, and may stimulate the nerve at the back of the throat to cause the heart to slow to a fatally low level.
• When sniffing there is a risk of suffocation.
• Users (when high) are more prone to accidents because their senses are affected. Accidents can occur in a number of ways. Some abusers become unconscious and choke when they inhale vomit, others are suffocated when they place a plastic bag over their heads and become too intoxicated to remove it or else become unconscious.
• A form of brain inflammation (encephalopathy) may arise from the lead compounds in leaded petrol. Many of these compounds are flammable. It is important to keep away from flames e.g. from firelighters and matches when inhaling. There have been severe burns caused by explosions and fires resulting from the misuse of butane. Repeated use of leaded petrol can cause lead poisoning.
• Mixing solvents and other drugs can be dangerous and may lead to unpredictable effects and can be life threatening.
Law
• It is an offence for any person to sell, offer or make available any substance to persons under 18 which they know or have reasonable cause to believe is likely to be inhaled for the purpose of causing intoxication.
Content thanks to YouthHealthNE authors.
See the help section for supportive information and contacts details of support organisations.
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