Inhalants - Neuro - AGH

Neurobiological Basis of Drug Dependence
and Selected Impulse-Control Disorders
Jerzy Silberring
Department of Biochemistry and Neurobiology
AGH University of Science and Technology
jerzy.silberring.agh@gmail.com
INHALANTS
Inhalants
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drugs that are inhaled as vapors
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usually legal to buy and are common
household items
“huffing”
placing a rag soaked in a substance over the
nose and mouth and then inhaling
Huffing “canned air”
http://forum2.aimoo.com/uproarorg/General-Discussion/Huffing-and-neardeath-1-946149.html
Inhalants
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Inhalants are breathable chemical vapors that
produce psychoactive effects
Many people do not think of these products,
such as paint, glue and cleaning fluids as drugs
because they were never meant to be used to
achieve an intoxicating effect
Young children and adolescents can easily
obtain them and are among those most likely to
abuse these substances
Statistics and Trends
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The 2002 study showed 15.2% of 8th
graders had used inhalants
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13.5% of 10th graders and 11.7% of 12th
graders stated that they had used
Huffing is no longer a problem of teens
http://www.examiner.com/health-news-in-national/national-health-news-photo-28
54% of treatment admissions related to inhalant abuse in
2008 involved adults ages 18 or older
SAMHSA
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52% adult admissions involved people aged 18 to 29
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32% involved people aged 30 to 44
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16% involved people aged 45 or older Effects
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hyperactivity, loss of inhibition,dizziness
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loss of coordination, difficulty speaking or
thinking, fear, anxiety, depression,
nausea, vomiting, headache, and loss of
consciousness
3 dangers of inhalants
damage to organs
n  dead brain cells
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SUDDEN SNIFFING DEATH SYNDROME
Inhalants
Solvents
Ø  Gasoline
Ø  Butane
Ø  Propane
Ø  Acetone
Ø  Ether
Ø  Chloroform
Ø 
Examples of Inhalants
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rubber cement
household glue
spray paint
hairspray
air freshener
deodorant
fabric protector
nail polish
remover
helium
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paint thinner
toxic markers
gasoline
dry cleaning fluid
spot remover
degreaser
vegetable cooking
spray
propane
be aware of
"compressed air"
contains propane/butane
Signs of Usage
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paint or stains on body or clothing
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spots or sores around the mouth
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red or runny eyes or nose
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chemical breath odor
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drunk, dazed or dizzy appearance
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nausea, loss of appetite
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anxiety, excitability, irritability
Diagnostic Criteria for Inhalant Intoxication
Recent intentional use or short-term, high-dose exposure to volatile inhalants
(excluding anesthetic gases and short-acting vasodilators)
Clinically significant maladaptive behavior or psychologic changes
(e.g., belligerence, assaultiveness, apathy, impaired judgment, impaired
social or occupational functioning) that developed during, or shortly after,
use of or exposure to volatile inhalants
Two (or more) of the following signs developing during, or shortly after,
inhalant use or exposure: dizziness, nystagmus, incoordination, slurred
speech, unsteady gait, lethargy, depressed reflexes, psychomotor retardation,
tremor, generalized muscle weakness, blurred vision or diplopia, stupor or
coma, or euphoria
The symptoms are not due to a general medical condition and are not better
accounted for by another mental disorder.
Anderson C.E. et al. Am.Family Physician 68/5, 2003
Adapted with permission from American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and
Short-term Effects
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rapid high – resembles alcohol
intoxication
slows down the body’s
functions
irregular and rapid heart
rhythms
heart failure and death within
minutes
“sudden sniffing death” can
result from a single session of
inhalant use
INHALANTS
Three types of chemicals are used to
produce a high
Solvents: liquids that vaporizer at room
temperature
Propellants: substances added to
products such as paint, hair spray,
whip cream, oven cleaner
Medical: ether, chloroform, nitrous
oxide, amyl nitrate
SOLVENTS
Solvent Products
v  nail
polish remover
v  lighter fluid
v  paint thinner
v  airplane glue
v  dry cleaning fluids
v  art solvents
PROPELLANTS
MEDICAL
Nitrous
oxide
Whip
cream
Nitrous oxide
ether
Sudden sniffing death syndrome
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sudden death, usually from heart failure, in
a person who is startled while sniffing
inhalants
The fright often occurs upon discovery of
the sniffer by an authority figure or when
the drug produces a frightening
hallucination
Sudden sniffing death syndrome
Solvent Products Cont.
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Correction Fluid
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Felt Tip Markers
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Rubber Cement
Gases
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freon
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helium
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xenon
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nitrous oxide (very common)
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ethylene
Gases
aerosol products
Ø  computer duster
Ø  hair spray
Ø  deodorant spray
Ø  spray paint (most common)
Ø  cooking spray
Ø  spray cleaners
Ø 
Gases
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aerosol products cont.
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spray shoe polish
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carburator cleaners
Nitrous Oxide
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medical drug dating back to the 18th century
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commonly known as laughing gas
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colorless and sweet-smelling
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medically used for oral surgery and dental work
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used as recreational drug at concerts and raves
Sources of Nitrous Oxide
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hospitals and Dentists’ offices
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whipped-cream containers
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small canisters (whip-its) sold in head
shops and mail-order ads
Signs of Use
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inhalants produce short-term effects
similar to anesthetics
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they slow the body down
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signs close to someone very intoxicated
on alcohol
Health Hazards
chronic abuse can cause severe, longterm damage to the brain, liver and the
kidneys.
n  hearing loss
n  limb spasms
n  bone marrow damage
n  blood oxygen depletion
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Further reading
Anderson C.E. et al. “Recognition and prevention of
inhalant abuse”. Am. Family Physician 68/5, 2003,
869