Is Your Child or Teen "Huffing?"

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Common Household Products - A Source of Inhalant Abuse

Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stoppler, MD
Medical Editor: Dennis Lee, MD

Recently, several teens have died after inhaling the chemical difluoroethane from a popular computer cleaning spray known as Dust-Off. Falcon, the manufacturer of Dust-Off, labels cans of Dust-Off with conspicuous warnings about misuse of the product. The product Dust-Off itself is not the source of the problem; it is only one example of hundreds of common household products with the potential to be abused by inhalant abusers.

Inhalant abuse (commonly called "huffing") is the intentional inhalation of chemical vapors to attain a mental "high" or euphoric effect. A wide variety of substances, including many common household products, are abused by inhalers. The 2000 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse revealed that the primary population of inhalant abusers is the 12 to 17 age group, followed by the 18 to 25 year old population. In 2000, 18% of eighth graders admitted having used inhalants (huffing) at least once in their lifetime.

Inhalants produce an effect that may be similar to alcohol intoxication. Initial symptoms described by abusers who were "huffing" include:

• drowsiness,
• lightheadedness, and
• loss of inhibition.

Further use can lead to the following:

• dizziness,
• hallucinations or delusions,
• belligerence,
• apathy, and
• impaired judgment.

Long-term inhalant abusers can suffer damaging health consequences including:

• depression and mood changes,
• weight loss,
• inattentiveness,
• lack of coordination,
• irritability, and
• weakness.

More serious consequences can include permanent damage to the brain and other organs or even death. Sudden cardiac death from fatal cardiac arrhythmias has been reported even in teen inhalant abusers. Death from huffing can occur upon the first time of use, or after prolonged inhalant abuse. Other causes of death include asphyxiation, aspiration, or suffocation.

Chronic inhalant abuse may result in serious and sometimes irreversible damage to the user's heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, and brain. Brain damage may result in personality changes, diminished cognitive functioning, memory impairment, and slurred speech.

The Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) Medical Examiner data revealed that inhalants were involved in over 500 deaths in the United States from 1996 to 1999.

Substances commonly used by inhalant abusers fall into several categories:

• Volatile solvents, such as those found in paint thinner, gasoline, felt-tip markers, nail polish remover, glue, and other household products.
• Aerosol sprays containing propellants and solvents. Examples include spray paint, deodorant, and hair care products.
• Gases, most commonly nitrous oxide (laughing gas).
• Nitrites, a group of chemicals that are used in room deodorizers, are more often abused by those seeking sexual enhancement rather than a euphoric state. Nitrites are most commonly abused by adults.

Parents of teens need to be especially vigilant about signs of inhalant abuse (huffing), since the abused substances are simple household items and not readily identifiable as drugs of abuse. These substances are also easily purchased and inexpensive, making them attractive to curious teens. In addition to signs of intoxication, parents should be warned of potential inhalant abuse by sores and scratches around the mouth area along with the presence of unusual odors.

For additional information, please visit the following areas:

• Teen Center 
• Drug Abuse

SOURCES: United States Department of Health & Human Services.