Download this fact sheet: Inhalant use (for workers) [PDF: 610 KB]
Number 2.3 revised August 2004
Introduction
Government, research and media reports have been pointing to inhalant abuse as a growing problem among young people in Australia.
In Victoria in 2001–02, the Drugs and Crime Prevention Committee (DCPC) conducted an Inquiry into the Inhalation of Volatile Substances. As a result of recommendations by the DCPC, legislation passed through the Victorian Parliament in relation to young people and volatile substance use came into effect on 1 July 2004 .
This fact sheet provides information for workers and professionals who work with young people on these recent changes to the law, the problems associated with inhalant use, including substances used and their effects, who uses them and why. Some practical advice is also offered on minimising the harms to young people using inhalants.
What are inhalants?
Background
Although not much is known in the general community about the dangers and effects of inhalant use as a form of intoxication, there were some reports in the United States of its use by young people in the 1940s. In Australia , early reports of young people sniffing glue and petrol date back to the 1970s. In 1992, the World Health Organization recognised inhalant use as an increasing problem world-wide.
Inhalants are a range of products (many of which are familiar household items) which, when vaporised and inhaled, may cause the user to feel intoxicated, or “high”. Many of the products used as inhalants are known as “volatile substances” because they include aerosol and gas fuels as well as glues and other forms of solvents.
Around 250 products available in Australian supermarkets, newsagencies and hardware stores have been identified as containing potentially intoxicating, inhalable solvents. These products include:
- adhesives such as modelling glue, Superglue and rubber cement
- aerosols such as hairsprays, spraypaints deodorants and non-stick sprays
- volatile solvents such as nail polish remover, paint stripper, correction fluid and thinner, dry-cleaning degreaser and petrol
- gases such as fuel gas, lighter fluid, fire extinguishers and whipped cream bulbs
- video head cleaners and “room odorisers” (sex aids).
Street names
Substances: glue, gas, sniff, huff, poppers
Methods: chroming, bagging, huffing, nanging, popping
How are inhalants used?
Chroming
Inhalant use is often referred to as “chroming” (as in the use of chrome paint), but chroming is only one of a number of methods commonly used. The user sprays paint from an aerosol can into a plastic bag and then breathes in the vapours from the bag. The re-breathing of exhaled air in the bag causes anoxia (oxygen deficiency), which intensifies the effects.
Spraying
Some users spray the substance into a balloon and then allow the balloon to implode inside their mouth. Others spray the substance directly into the mouth from the container—this method is very dangerous because it can paralyse the wind passages, freeze the throat and cause suffocation.
Huffing
The user saturates a rag or cloth (or their sleeve) with the substance and holds it over the nose and mouth while inhaling.
Other methods
Other methods of using inhalants include heating (for example, methylene chloride) and filling a sink or bathtub in a closed room.
Inhalant use in Australia
A survey in 2000 by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found that, of Australians aged 14 years and over, 2.6 per cent had used inhalants at some time in their life.
In 1999, a national survey of secondary school students found that:
- 26 per cent of students had used inhalants at some time in their life
- around half of students who had used inhalants in the previous year had used them on only one or two occasions
- use of inhalants was related to age—younger students (aged 12–13 years) were five times more likely than older students (17 years) to have ever used inhalants
- slightly more girls used inhalants in their lifetime, but boys tended towards longer, heavier or more regular use.
In 2002, the DCPC Parliamentary Inquiry found petrol sniffing to be a huge problem in some Indigenous communities in remote parts of the country. Chroming was found to be the most frequently used form of inhalant use in Victorian and other Australian cities.
Effects of inhalants
Like alcohol, inhalants are “depressants”. This does not mean they make the user feel depressed. Rather, they slow down the activity of the brain and central nervous system. Messages to and from the brain to the body, including physical, mental and emotional responses, are affected.
Due to the number and variety of products used as inhalants, it is not possible to list here the specific effects of each particular substance.
However, as with all other drugs, many factors can have an influence on how the person is affected, including, for example, age and physical characteristics (such as weight), and the type and quantity of the substance used. Method of use can also vary the effects of the substance.
Immediate and short-term effects
Small amounts of inhalants can affect the user quite quickly, due to their rapid entry into the bloodstream through the lungs. Some of the immediate and short-term effects include:
- intoxication: within 3–5 minutes of using inhalants, the person may feel intoxicated, happy and less inhibited; a sustained “high” may be achieved by repeated use
- mood change: can vary from mild excitement to euphoria; sometimes the person may become agitated or uneasy
- drowsiness: sometimes the initial excitement is followed by drowsiness
- ’flu-like symptoms: inhalants may cause sneezing, coughing, glazed eyes or a runny nose, like having a cold or the ’flu
- sickness: inhalants can make the user feel sick and have diarrhoea
- unpleasant breath
- nosebleeds, bloodshot eyes and sores around the nose and mouth
- reckless behaviour: sometimes people do risky or dangerous things after using inhalants, causing serious accidents.
Most of these effects usually occur within an hour of inhaling. Hangovers and headaches, sometimes lasting for several days, may occur after the immediate effects have passed.
In greater quantities
If large amounts of inhalants are used, the person could become disoriented and lose their body co-ordination. Other side effects include visual distortions and passing out.
Short-term use
Some glue sniffers have been admitted to hospital unable to control their movements or speak properly, and having convulsions. Most of these symptoms usually clear within a few hours and rarely cause permanent damage. Some people experience problems with their breathing, but this improves over time.
Long-term effects
Heavy and frequent users may experience:
- health problems: long-term users may appear pale, have tremors, lose weight, feel tired and be unusually thirsty. They may also have anaemia, because some inhalants affect the production of blood. Inhalants (chroming in particular) can cause eye problems—blood vessels can burst in the eyes, making them completely red and eventually leading to blindness
- brain damage: a build-up of chemicals (such as the lead in petrol) in the body can cause damage to the brain, nervous system, kidneys and liver, and can irritate the lining of the stomach and intestines. Prolonged and heavy use can cause stupor or coma, breathing problems, irregular heart beat and seizures
- impaired thinking: the user may become forgetful and be less able to think clearly
- psychological impairment: the user may become irritable, hostile, depressed or feel persecuted.
Permanent effects
Most long-term effects are not necessarily permanent, and can be reversed if inhalant use is stopped. However, inhalation of cleaning products, correction fluid and aerosol sprays can cause permanent damage.
Permanent brain damage is rare, but can occur if the person uses inhalants for a long period of time.
Drinking alcohol and using inhalants can increase the damage to the body substantially.
Danger/death
A small number of people have died from using inhalants.
The main danger comes from accidents when intoxicated, such as suffocation by the plastic bags used to inhale, choking on vomit when unconscious, and reckless behaviours.
“Sudden sniffing death” has been known to follow the use of aerosol sprays, cleaning and correction fluids and model aeroplane cement. Although rare, it is believed that the chemicals in these products can cause heart failure, especially if the user is stressed or does heavy exercise after inhaling.
Tolerance and dependence
Regular users can develop a tolerance to inhalants, so that they need greater quantities of the substance to produce the same effects.
Regular use of inhalants can result in physical and/or psychological dependence. Physical dependence means that the person’s body is used to functioning with the inhalant present, and needs it to feel normal.
Psychological dependence means that using inhalants becomes far more important to the person than other activities in their life. When a person is physically or psychologically dependent on inhalants, they crave using inhalants, and will find it very difficult to stop.
Withdrawal
Abruptly stopping use can cause withdrawal symptoms such as depression, anxiety, loss of appetite, irritation, aggressive behaviour, dizziness, tremors and nausea.
Inhalants and the law
Use or possession of volatile substances is not illegal in Victoria . Most inhalants are common household products, so it is not practical to make them illegal. It is also unlikely that this would help protect young people from harm.
It is illegal, however, to sell a product to someone if you believe that it is to be used for the purposes of inhaling.
The Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances (Volatile Substances) Act 2003 was amended in Victoria, allowing police to search and/or detain for questioning young people under the age of 18 years regarding volatile substances in their possession. Police may confiscate these substances if they believe the young person to be in danger of harm by use of the substances. Police may also detain the young person for the purposes of transporting them to a parent, guardian or youth drug and alcohol service, as appropriate. See our Fact sheet 3.1 Young people, volatile substances and the law for more information.
The Volatile Substances Protocol (July 2004) has been designed to ensure a consistent response from all relevant agencies when responding to a young person who has or is likely to abuse inhalants and who has been brought to the service by police.
The Protocol is available at www.health.vic.gov.au/drugservices/pubs/volatile.htm.
Who uses inhalants?
Teenagers have been identified as the most prevalent group of inhalant users. Some adults on the “dance”scene’ use inhalants such as amyl nitrate (“poppers”) to heighten their experience. The three broad categories of user are:
- the experimenter: most teenage users fall into this category; they try it once or twice, then stop by themselves
- social/situational user: mostly use inhalants in the company of friends or in certain situations; the amount used varies, depending on what else is going on in their lives. These users often develop other interests and move away from this practice
- long-term, dependent user: a small number of people, often who have other major problems in their lives. They may use inhalants alone or with other people who also use regularly. They may feel bad about using, but feel unable to give up.
Why do they use inhalants?
Young people who use inhalants often give similar reasons to adults who use alcohol or other drugs. Some reasons include:
- to have fun or excitement
- for intoxication, to get high or ‘out of it’
- to be part of a group
- to shock adults, or to copy the behaviour of adults who use alcohol
- as an alternative to using alcohol
- to deal with problems
- inhalants are legal, easily available and cheap to buy.
Experimenting with inhalants can be a part of growing up and, for most, it is a passing interest and they move on to other activities. Some people move on to using other drugs.
Identifying inhalant use
It may not be possible to tell if someone is or has been using inhalants. There are no clear signs or symptoms, but some indications are:
- possession of unusual amounts of glues, solvents or aerosol containers
- chemical smells on their clothes or breath
- unexpected and rapid “drunken” behaviour
- bloodshot eyes
- sores around the nose and mouth.
Minimising the harms
While prevention is preferable, it may not be possible to prevent all use of inhalants. As someone who works with young people, you can work to reduce the harms by offering advice on how to lower the risks and reduce accidents. This does not mean that you accept, support or encourage the use of these substances. Harm minimisation strategies include advising users:
- that some substances (such as glue) are less harmful than others
- not to sniff alone or in dangerous places
- not to put plastic bags over their heads
- smaller bags reduce the risk of suffocation
- substances are flammable (no smoking)
- using alcohol or other drugs while intoxicated with inhalants increases the chance of accidents and overdose
- what to do in an emergency.
Remember that safety should be your highest priority. If a young person appears intoxicated, assess their need for immediate medical attention—call for an ambulance if necessary. It may be useful to know that, when called, the police may assist in removing the person to a safe place.
Where to get help
In an emergency, tel. Emergency 000
Treatment, counselling and referral
DirectLine (24 hrs, 7 days), tel. 1800 888 236
Youth Substance Abuse Service (24 hrs)
tel. 1800 014 446 for 12–21-year-olds
Family Drug Help, tel. 1300 660 068
A support service staffed by trained volunteers and professional counsellors
For information on drugs and drug prevention, or to access our other fact sheets and reports, visit our website at www.druginfo.adf.org.au or contact the DrugInfo Clearinghouse Resource Centre on
tel. 1300 85 85 84.