Author: James Anderson

Signs & Symptoms of Huffing Inhalants

Huffing is a type of substance abuse that involves inhaling fumes from household substances in order to experience a high. Also known as sniffing or inhalant abuse, this practice is usually undertaken to feel euphoria or experience visions or hallucinations; however, it is an extremely risky form of substance abuse. A veteran of two branches of the U.S. military, Max is continuing his education in healthcare administration. Max began his career in the addiction field working as a group facilitator and teacher, developing and delivering a successful faith-based curriculum in a long-term residential treatment setting. Huffing paint is also the term generally used for other types of inhalant abuse. Inhalants are often used by young teenagers since they can easily obtain these kinds of products.

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More properly known as inhalant abuse, this practice is widespread among teenagers and young adults and comes with hazardous side effects. Shannon is a certified A.D.T. who has worked in different capacities at several rehabilitation centers in the state of Maryland. Shannon has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia in Political Science. Prior to entering the substance abuse and mental health field, Shannon was a Corporate Executive for 18 years.

What Are The Side Effects Of Huffing?

  1. Here’s a breakdown of the methods used to inhale these substances (often dictated by the type of inhalant).
  2. For instance, it might be a fad among teens to use cans of whipped cream, called whippets when used for huffing, simply because they are affordable, easy to get, and easy to explain.
  3. Prolonged huffing in a single session can lead to hypoxia and other serious medical conditions.
  4. Shannon has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia in Political Science.

The article from the Journal of Drug and Alcohol Research indicates that long-term toluene abuse can result in cognitive impairment, including inability to concentrate, lowered IQ, memory loss, and impaired judgment. Damage to the brain’s white matter can also occur, causing neurological problems. Liver toxicity, kidney damage, and heart failure are also often found in people who have engaged in long-term, chronic paint huffing. The percentage of these people that specifically huff paint is unknown; however, spray paint is one of the most popular substances to be inhaled. As toluene is the active chemical in paint, it causes an intense euphoric rush, according to Medscape, which accounts for the popularity of paint as an inhalant of abuse.

Sprays

I have been on both sides of the fence, active addiction and recovery, and continue to choose recovery every day. Some of the toxic chemicals in paint provide an intense high that can be easily obtained by those who are otherwise unable to afford or get access to other drugs. However, huffing paint and other forms of inhalant abuse are extremely dangerous, causing multiple severe injuries and deaths every year. Inhalant use disorder is a type of substance use disorder in which people use common household and workplace items to get high. If your use of inhalants is affecting your health, relationships, work, school or other aspects of your life, it may be time to seek help.

Other Effects

Huffing generally produces a very short-lived high, lasting only minutes at a time in many cases. When possible, people using inhalants may continue huffing for hours on end, huffing again each time the high starts to fade. That behavior, and the low barrier to entry thanks to inhalants’ status as common and affordable household items made addiction a real risk with huffing. James Scribner holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business.

Huffing is the process in which individuals inhale fumes to experience a distortion to their senses. It can be known by different names, but the inhaler’s primary goal is to get high. This altered state can be very short, which leads to repeated uses and can become an addiction. The CNS, comprising the brain and spinal cord, is the body’s information highway. When this system is damaged, it can be devastating to a person’s everyday life.

Ease of use can contribute to a product being known for being a possible inhalant, which can make that particular inhalant a drug of choice in an area. Lazare Shadzeka is a Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner via the American Nurses Credentialing Center, with privileges in Maryland and Washington DC. Lazare has accumulated over eight enriching years in the provision of holistic care to a wide variety of clients, with psychiatric conditions. American Addiction Centers (AAC) is committed to delivering original, truthful, accurate, unbiased, and medically current information. We strive to create content that is clear, concise, and easy to understand. Join 40,000+ People Who Receive Our Newsletter Get valuable resources on addiction, recovery, wellness, and our treatments delivered directly to your inbox.

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In 2017, James had the opportunity to combine his business experience and passion for recovery to start The Freedom Center. This kind of substance abuse can be achieved with household products that can be easily obtained and are not as expensive as other drugs. For example, the toxic chemicals in paint provide a euphoric sensation that may make the user experience visions or hallucinate.

Aside from its impact on the central nervous system, huffing can also wreak havoc on the cardiovascular system. The cardiovascular system, which includes the heart and blood vessels, is responsible for circulating blood throughout the body. This ensures all your body’s cells receive the oxygen and nutrients they need to function correctly. The Foundation for a Drug-Free World is a nonprofit, international drug education program proudly sponsored by the Church of Scientology and Scientologists all over the world. Most people benefit from a combination of more than one of these treatments.