Inhalants: what are they?
Inhalants are a range of products that produce vapours which, when inhaled, may cause a person to feel intoxicated or ‘high’. Inhalants are ‘depressants’, which means that they slow down the activity of the brain and central nervous system. As a result, the messages going between the brain and the body are slowed down.
Inhalants include the organic solvents present in many domestic and industrial products (such as glue, aerosol, paints, industrial solvents, lacquer thinners, gasoline or petrol, and cleaning fluids) and the aliphatic nitrites such as amyl nitrite.
Street names
Glue, gas, sniff, huff, chroming (as in the use of chrome paint), poppers.
Method of use
The substance is inhaled through the nose or mouth, or sprayed into a plactic bag, poured into a bottle, or soaked onto a cloth before being inhaled.
Who uses inhalants?
Teenagers are identified as the most prevalent group of inhalant users. Some adults involved in the ‘dance scene’ also use inhalants to heighten their experience.
There are 3 broad categories of people who use inhalants.
The experimenter
The majority of teenagers fall into this category. They try it once or twice then stop by themselves.
The social/situational user
Usually done with a group of friends. The amount of use varies, depending on what else is going on in their lives. These people often develop other interests and move out of this practice.
The long-term, dependent user
A small number of people go on to use inhalants on a regular basis over a long time. They generally have other major problems in their lives. They may use inhalants alone, or with other people who use inhalants regularly.
For more information, please click on the Australian Drug Foundation's DrugInfo Clearinghouse web site link below.
Last Reviewed: 20 September 2006
