According to Cohen and Inaba (2014), “Inhalants are volatile liquids or aerosol sprays that produce many of the same psychoactive effects as street drugs” (p. 7.2). Inhalants are cheap, fast acting, and quickly accessible on the street, at home, and at work (Cohen & Inaba, 2014). There are several methods of inhalation such as sniffing, huffing, “bagging,” spraying, “balloons and crackers,” and inhaling vaporized alcohol fumes (Cohen & Inaba, 2014). Inhalants have four categories: volatile solvents, aerosols, volatile nitrites, and anesthetics; and each category has an inhalant product (Cohen & Inaba, 2014). Volatile solvents inhalants are gasoline and gasoline additives, airplane glue, rubber cement and other glues, liquid cement, nail polish …show more content…
The drugs can damage neural membranes and myelin as well as lead to brainstem dysfunction, which can cause motor, sensory, and cognitive deficits. Irritability, hearing loss, slurred speech, tremors, lack of motor coordination, bone marrow toxicity, and vision problems may be long-term results of huffing. According to Bowen, Garland, Howard, Perron, and Vaughn (2011), “long-term brain damage, possibly resulting from cerebellar insult or cortical cell loss” (p. 23). Damage to major organs, such as liver, kidneys, heart, and lungs, and to the central nervous system can also be the result of repeated huffing. Other inhalant long-term effects that abusers may experience are pimples around the mouth and lips; pale appearance; tremors; weight loss; tiredness; excessive thirst; loss of sense of smell and hearing; problems with blood production, which may result in problems such as anemia, irregular heartbeat and damage to the heart muscle; forgetfulness and memory impairment; reduced attention and ability to think clearly and logically; liver and kidney damage; irritability, hostility, feeling depressed or feeling persecuted; chest pain or angina; indigestion; and stomach