Dangers & Effects
Inhalants can kill you.
Children can die the first time, or any time, they try an inhalant. This is known as Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome, which is usually associated with cardiac arrest. The inhalant causes the heart to beat rapidly and erratically, resulting in the heart attack. While Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome can occur with many types of inhalants, it is particularly associated with the abuse of air conditioning coolant, butane, propane, and the chemicals in some aerosol products.
Inhaled chemicals are rapidly absorbed through the lungs into the bloodstream and quickly distributed to the brain and other organs. Within minutes, the user experiences intoxication, similar to the effect of drinking alcohol. With inhalants, however, intoxication lasts only a few minutes, so some users prolong the “high” by repeatedly inhaling.
Knowing the dangers and effects of inhalant abuse can save your child’s life. Read the personal stories from families who have experienced loss of a loved one, and hopefully learn from these stories so you can avoid what these people have gone through.
Short-term effects of inhaling include:
- Headaches
- Muscle weakness
- Abdominal pain
- Severe mood swings
- Violent behavior
- Belligerence
- Slurred speech
- Numbness
- Tingling of hands and feet
- Nausea
- Hearing loss
- Depressed reflexes
- Stupor
- Loss of consciousness
- Limb spasms
- Fatigue
- Lack of coordination
- Apathy
- Impaired judgment
- Dizziness
- Lethargy
- Visual disturbances
The inhalant user will initially feel slightly stimulated and, after successive attempts, will feel less inhibited and less in control. Hallucinations may occur and the user can lose consciousness. Worse, he or she, may even die.
Long-term effects of inhaling include:
- weight loss
- muscle weakness
- disorientation
- inattentiveness
- lack of coordination
- irritability
- depression
Different inhalants produce different harmful effects, and regular abuse of these substances can result in serious harm to vital organs. Serious, but potentially reversible, effects include liver and kidney damage.
Harmful irreversible effects include:
- hearing loss
- limb spasms
- central nervous system (including brain) damage
Learn the warning signs of abuse.