Effects of using Inhalants
There are many negative effects to using inhalants. Here they are divided into two categories, short term and long term.
Short Term
|
Long Term
|
How Inhalants Kill
Like most street drugs, inhalants can be deadly. Someone can die from abusing inhalants after trying it only once. Causes of death include:
- "Sudden Sniffing Death" — This is the most common cause of death from inhalant use. The heart beats quickly and irregularly, and then suddenly stops (cardiac arrest). This can happen even the first time a person tries an inhalant and is experimenting.
- Asphyxia — Toxic fumes replace oxygen in the lungs so that a person stops breathing.
- Choking — A user can choke on his or her vomit.
- Suffocation — When vapors are inhaled from a plastic bag placed over the head, the bag can block air from entering the lungs.
- Injuries — Since people high on inhalants often make poor decisions, they might try to drive under the influence or do something irrational, such as jump off a roof. They could also get burned or start explosions if a spark ignites flammable inhalants.
- Suicide — Some people become depressed when their high wears off.
Click the button on the right to find out how to tell if someone is inhaling. |