What are inhalants?
They are commonplace household products that are used for substance abuse. Users inhale fumes from these chemicals to get a quick high. These chemicals are extremely toxic and addictive. Some such chemicals are room fresheners, shoe polish, gasoline, glue and so on. They are sprayed on to clothes or body, even inhaled from small plastic or paper bags. They can have severe and harmful effects on physiological and mental health of the user.
Effects of inhalants
They are extremely toxic, highly addictive and can be fatal in many cases. It is very difficult to overcome this addiction simply because these products are all over the place and are very easily available to anyone.
Inhalants are mood-altering chemicals and affect the nervous system very fast. As they are inhaled, their effect is very fast as they can reach all over the body, including the brain, in a matter of seconds.
Immediate effects
These are effects that the user experiences in a matter of a few seconds or minutes of using the chemical.
- Inability to co-ordinate or control movements
- Slurring of speech
- Severe headaches
- Inability to make decisions and judgments
- Delusions and hallucinations
- Dizziness and unconsciousness
- Sudden death due to rapid nonrhythmic increase in heart rate as a result of overdosing
- Fatality due to suffocation from complete lack of oxygen in the lungs
Longterm effects
If the user continues using inhalants for an extended period of time, there will be irreversible damage done to certain body tissues as well as mental and emotional balance that can completely ruin the user’s life.
- Inability to co-ordinate bodily movements
- Loss of hearing
- Impaired memory and intelligence
- Multiple organ damage
- Depression. irritability and disorientation
- Weakness in muscles and fatigue
- Damage to bone marrow
- Death from heart attack or failure or suffocation and asphyxiation
Inhalants are extremely toxic and dangerous and can be fatal in a lot many cases. It is, therefore, better not to get into such addiction and stay away from substance abuse for good.
