Inhalants
Inhalants are chemical vapors found in many household cleaning products. When intentionally inhaled, they can have temporary mind-altering effects. They are most often found in the form of solvents, aerosols, or gases.
History and Social Effects
Inhalants are easily obtained, and ordinarily over the counter drugs that are commonly found as household objects. They are very often a gateway drug for bored and curious teens who find this an easy way to get their high. It was used in ancient times in religious ceremonies as a way to alter one's consiousness, but more recently became popularized with the recreational use of gasoline.
Socially, inhalants can cause the abuser to be less focused on schoolwork and social affairs, and, as many users begin during adolescense, it can cause the user to miss out on many essential aspects to one's young life. It can cause the user to be more depressed and typically not a person many people want to be around, which can affect the person's future with friendships.
Socially, inhalants can cause the abuser to be less focused on schoolwork and social affairs, and, as many users begin during adolescense, it can cause the user to miss out on many essential aspects to one's young life. It can cause the user to be more depressed and typically not a person many people want to be around, which can affect the person's future with friendships.
Physical Effects
Long-term inhalant use can result in depression, trouble retaining information, and trouble operating machinery. Long-term effects can also include hearing loss, limb spasms, damage to the central-nervous system or brain, and bone marrow damage. Sniffing a high concentation of an inhalant at one time can result in death due to heart failure. Short-term effects include loss of sensetion and sometimes unconciousness.
Uses
Inhalants come in many forms such as aerosols, solvents, and gases. The vapors of these products are inhaled providing the user with a temporary high. They can be found in many different forms, going by the street names of whippets, poppets, and snappers.
Abuse and Addiction
When they are inhaled, it damages the brain cells. The user can experience a need from the body to obtain the high they crave. Many users do not take the obvious dangers into account and risk death or serious conditions.