Author: James Anderson

Inhalant Use Disorder: What It Is, Symptoms & Treatment

Other school-based programs that target adolescent substance use have produced positive results. According to a 2020 survey, 2.4 million people in the U.S. ages 12 and older had used an inhalant in the past year. The FHE Health team is committed to providing accurate information that adheres to the highest standards of writing.

  1. Because the high lasts only a few minutes, users try to make the high last longer by inhaling repeatedly for several hours.
  2. The good news for anyone hooked on inhalants is that you can find freedom from addiction.
  3. Paint or paint cans may be missing from the household supply, or paint-covered rags may be found hidden or in the trash.
  4. Observation may help if they experience inhalant withdrawal symptoms, too.
  5. Specialization in therapy can be challenging to find for people in some geographical regions, which is why online therapy has taken off in recent years.
  6. Unlike MDIs, a propellant doesn’t push the medicine out of a DPI.

What is inhalant use disorder?

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicates that about 527,000 people 12 or older reported using inhalants in 2015. The majority of these people were between the ages of 12 and 17, representing about 0.7 percent of those in this age range. A dry powder inhaler (DPI) is a device used to deliver asthma medication in the form of a dry powder. The device is not under pressure in the way that an MDI is, so it does not “push” the medication into your lungs.

Associated terms

Inhalants are chemicals that people inhale (breathe in) to cause a pleasurable feeling or effect (“high”). The chemicals are found in common household and workplace products that produce fumes (vapors). When you inhale these fumes, your brain absorbs them quickly, producing a quick “high.” Chronic use of inhalants can result in irreversible side effects, including brain damage, coma and even death. Inhalant use can lead to blurred vision and slurred speech in the short term and brain damage and bone marrow problems in the long term.

Treatment for Inhalant Use

A note from Cleveland ClinicInhalers treat many conditions, but providers most commonly prescribe them for breathing conditions like asthma and COPD. Sometimes it can be hard to know if you’re using an inhaler properly and getting the most benefit from it. Have your provider demonstrate how to use your specific device and ask any questions about proper use. Speak up if you feel like a specific inhaler is too hard to use or isn’t working for you.

Signs and Symptoms of Huffing Inhalants

Dry powder inhalers (DPIs) store medicine as a powder inside capsules or other containers that you activate when you’re ready to use the inhaler. Unlike MDIs, a propellant doesn’t push the medicine out of a DPI. Instead, you use a quick, deep breath to pull the powder out and into your lungs.

Inhalants are used mostly by younger teens and school-age children, although adults sometimes also use them. Rates are also higher in people of lower income, those with mental health conditions, people living in rural communities and in communities with high unemployment rates. In many cases, inhalant use declines by 17 to 19 years of age. Inhalant use is more common in people assigned male at birth (AMAB) than people assigned female at birth (AFAB). Specialization in therapy can be challenging to find for people in some geographical regions, which is why online therapy has taken off in recent years.

Some of these substances are inhaled at room temperature; others are heated and then inhaled or sniffed. Inhalants are also sometimes inhaled through a saturated rag. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any questions about using your inhaler. You should also contact them if your breathing isn’t well-managed with medications. Signs that your breathing isn’t well-managed might include waking up in the night with asthma symptoms or unexpectedly needing your rescue inhaler more than twice per week. Most people use long-acting bronchodilators to manage symptoms of COPD.

Psychotherapy, in particular cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), is commonly used to help individuals who misuse chemical inhalants. Therapists using CBT techniques can help by partnering with their clients to improve self-esteem and personal relationships. CBT is a type of therapy that is designed to challenge negative behaviors and beliefs and guide a person toward more positive ones. Metered dose inhalers (MDIs or pMDIs), sometimes called “puffers,” hold the medication in a pressurized canister. The canister sits in a handheld container with a mouthpiece.

Ask your provider to demonstrate how to use the device they’ve prescribed. Talk to them if you’re concerned about your ability to use it. Providers also prescribe a rescue inhaler for exacerbations (times when your breathing gets worse). By fully engaging in these therapies and treatments, the individual can break the cycle of addiction to inhaling paint and avoid relapse to continued use of this dangerous illicit substance.

Inhalant Use Disorder

For people who are pregnant, huffing paint can cause physical malformations and developmental damage in the fetus. Inhalant abuse is most common among children and youths who do not have the means to obtain other types of drugs. However, adults are also known to use inhalants to get high.

Inhalant use disorder treatment methods are similar to those healthcare providers use to treat other addictive behaviors. These treatments include individual therapy (cognitive behavioral therapy), family therapy, activity and engagement programs and aftercare (including support groups). Asthma is a chronic illness caused by inflammation of the airways of the lungs (bronchioles).