Drug Trends: Huffing: the Popular Employment of Household Inhalants

Huffing is the inhalant use of the vapors and gases found in common household solvents and propellants in order to experience a psychoactive reaction. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (2005), surveys show that 22.9 million Americans have abused inhalants at least once in their lives, and at least three percent of Americans have done so by the fourth grade. As the substances found around the household employed for inhalant use are often inexpensive and readily accessible, many who abuse them are the young, the poor and the incarcerated (Joseph, 2005). According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy (2008), there are these inhalants can be grouped into four categories- volatile solvents (liquids that vaporize at room temperature), aerosols, gases and nitrates.

Volatile solvents "include paint thinners and removers, dry-cleaning fluids, degreasers, gasoline, glues, correction fluids and felt-tipped markers" (NIDA, 2005). Aerosols include any items contained within aerosol packaging, including but not limited to hairspray and spray deodorant. The "gases" category contains both gases used for medical anesthesia (such as chloroform, halothane and nitrous oxide), as well as gases found in common household items (including nitrous oxide found in whipped cream cans, butane lighters and refrigerants) (NIDA, 2005). Finally, the nitrate category encompasses those items known as amyl nitrates or "poppers".

Although inhalant use is predominant among the very young, with the highest incidence of use being among children between the ages of ten and twelve (Joseph, 2005), inhalant abuse is also popular among gay men, in the rave subculture, and among those engaging in homosexual acts within the prison population (Woody, et al., 1999). While youngsters generally abuse items that are easily found in the home (for example- mom's hairspray, a can of Redi-Whip in the refrigerator), adults who "huff" tend to prefer amyl nitrates which are purchased with the specific intent of being used to experience a "rush". In fact, these amyl nitrates are typically sold under such brand names as "Rush" and "Huff", and since nitrates are prohibited for sale by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, they are often disguised for sale as "video head cleaner", "room odorizer", "leather cleaner" and "liquid aroma" (NIDA, 2005). As for members of the prison population who engage in the abuse of inhalants, they typically use cleaning agents they have access to while doing work in the jail (Joseph, 2005).

Inhalants are desirable for those seeking a fast and inexpensive high because through inhalation, chemicals are absorbed through the lungs and into the bloodstream, affecting the Central Nervous System so quickly that intoxication is experienced literally within seconds (NIDA, 2005). According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy (2008), "Most inhalants produce a rapid high that resembles alcohol intoxication with initial excitation, then drowsiness, disinhibition, lightheadedness, and agitation."

Perhaps it is by virtue of the fact that this fast high occurs from the use of what would seem to be a rather innocuous household substance that makes huffing appeal to youngsters (and some adults as well) in seeming "safe," but the side effects can be deadly. "Sudden Sniffing Death," though rare, can occur after just one prolonged sniffing session in which the heart rate becomes irregular and/or rapid and results in heart failure (Office of National Drug Control Policy, 2008). More frequent of course, are the serious health impairments and problems that can result from chronic inhalant abuse. "Sniffing glue and paint thinner causes kidney abnormalities, while sniffing the solvents toluene and trichloroethylene cause liver damage. Memory impairment, attention deficits, and diminished non-verbal intelligence have been related to the abuse of inhalants. Deaths resulting from heart failure, asphyxiation, or aspiration have occurred (Joseph, 2005)." Of those who required hospitalization for inhalant abuse during 2006, most were male (67%) and white (65.3%) with 40% under the age of twenty (Office of National Drug Control Policy, 2008). The fact that 60% of those treated were over the age of twenty might suggest that huffing is not a practice exclusive to the very young. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, nitrate users are almost entirely older adolescents and adults, and because of the fact that nitrates tend to be used to allow for greater disinhibition and sexual freedom, users put themselves at greater risk for sexually transmitted illnesses (including HIV/AIDS) and face detrimental consequences as a result (2005). This transmission of sexually transmitted illness and correlated nitrate use is often found in the bathhouse
subculture of gay America (Woody, et al., 1999).

In summary, huffing is not an innocent, harmless practice. Rather, huffing is a practice in which a quick rush is gained through taking a disproportionately high risk to one's health and safety. As most inhalants are non-regulated substances everyone encounters and uses practically in everyday life, governance of whipped cream for example, is unlikely to remedy the problem. Greater education about the risks involved in this practice is truly the only possible solution that is both practical and viable.

Bibliography

Joseph, Donald E.. (2005). "Inhalants". Drugs of Abuse. Retrieved on April 20, 2008 from http://www.dea.gov/pubs/abuse/9-inhal.htm.

National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2005). Research Report. Retrieved April 20, 2008 from http://www.drugabuse.gov/PDF/RRInhalants.pdf.

Office of National Drug Control Policy. (2008). "Inhalants Facts & Figures". Drug Facts. Retrieved April 20, 2008 from http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/drugfact/inhalants/index.html .

Woody, G.E.; Donnell, D.; Seage, G.R.; et al. (1999). "Non-injection substance use correlates with risky sex among men having sex with men". Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 53(3): 197-205.