THE EFFECTS OF INHALANTS USE

Inhalants are considered as poisonous and as such constant usage of inhalants can harm the nerve and brain (which bears a resemblance to multiple sclerosis), harm to kidneys, liver, lung, and heart. If used for a long period of time then it can affect the user’s vision, thinking, movement and hearing.

A person can suffer from death or heart failure if he inhales strong amount of chemicals present in aerosol sprays and solvents. The cause of heart failure is because of the intrusion of the chemicals with the heart’s regulating system.

This will result in the stopping of heartbeat. Butane-type gases and fluorocarbons have more chances of causing such problems. Death is caused by serious injury from accidents (when intoxicated), seizures or convulsions, choking, coma, suffocation and asphyxiation. The other side effects of breathing in certain solvents are as follows:

-         Reduction in blood oxygen: caused by methylene chloride (paint thinners, varnish removers) and organic nitrites (rush, bold and poppers).

-         Harm to kidney and liver: caused by chlorinated hydrocarbons (dry- cleaning fluids, correction fluids) and toluene-containing substances

-         Harm to the central nervous system or brain: caused by toluene (glues, paint sprays).

-         Peripheral neuropathies or limb spasms: caused by nitrous oxide (gas cylinders, whipping cream) and hexane (gasoline, glues).

-         Harm to bone marrow: caused by benzene (gasoline).

-         Hearing loss: caused by trichloroethylene (correction fluids, cleaning fluids) and toluene (glues, paint sprays).