Finding Help for the Effects of Inhalant Abuse
Inhalant abuse can have extremely problematic and even dangerous effects whether the individual has just started using inhalants or has been abusing them for several months or more. Knowing how and where to find help for the effects of inhalant abuse could be life-saving as well as extremely beneficial a person who may have lost control of their inhalant use.
Where Can I Find Help for the Effects of Inhalant Abuse?
Depending on the effect the individual is experiencing, there are many places you can go to find help for them. An inhalant abuser can experience severe and even life-threatening effects from high doses of inhalants and long-term abuse can also cause issues that are not easily remedied.
Huffing, or using inhalants, is a very dangerous practice. Treatment can help you overcome safely!
As stated by the NIDA, “According to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), there were 793,000 persons aged 12 or older who had used inhalants for the first time within the past 12 months; 68.4 percent were under the age of 18.” Young adolescents are especially susceptible to inhalant abuse and should be treated or helped as soon as possible so that their abuse of inhalants does not become worse.
Some of the common places you can find help for the effects of inhalant abuse are:
- A hospital or emergency clinic
- A substance abuse treatment facility (like those listed on SAMHSA‘s treatment locator)
- A doctor’s office
- A community outreach program, mental health center, or another type of counseling treatment facility
- A support group for substance use disorders
You can also ask for help from:
- A school counselor or teacher
- Poison control
- 911
There are many places where you can find help for the effects of inhalant abuse, as well as individuals who can help you. But how do you know who to ask for which issue? And how dangerous are the different effects of inhalant abuse?
Life-Threatening Effects of Inhalant Use
There are life-threatening effects of inhalant use and, according to the NIDA Teen, they can occur “even after just one use.” Some of these extremely dangerous effects are:
- Coma
- Choking from “inhaling vomit after inhalant use”
- Inhalant intoxication can often cause nausea and vomiting which can be dangerous if the person happens to choke.
- Sudden sniffing death syndrome (or SSDS)
- This occurs when a person inhales a large amount of one of these substances. The heart will start to beat irregularly and very fast and then it will suddenly stop and the individual will go into cardiac arrest.
- Seizures
- Suffocation
- Air is blocked from getting into the lungs when a person inhales the fumes by placing a plastic bag over their head
- Asphyxiation
- The fumes replace the oxygen in the individual’s lungs and they stop breathing
Any of these effects can happen to someone who is abusing inhalants, whether they have been doing so for days or years. They can all be deadly, and help should be found right away before the individual’s condition gets worse.
In this case, you must call 911 immediately to get help for the individual. Tell the operator everything that has happened and that the person who was abusing inhalants is in extreme danger. Stay with the person until the ambulance arrives and then take the chemical or inhalant they used to the hospital so the doctor will know what caused the effects.
Withdrawal Effects of Inhalant Abuse
According to CESAR, “Sustained inhalant abuse can cause” dependence where the individual relies on these substances to feel normal. If the person stops abusing inhalants suddenly, “withdrawal symptoms develop after use is stopped. These symptoms can include”
- Sweating
- Rapid pulse
- Tremors in the hands
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Insomnia
- Physical agitation
- Anxiety
- Seizures
- Hallucinations
These effects can be dangerous as a person experiencing issues like seizures and hallucinations can become hurt without realizing it. When someone is experiencing withdrawal effects from inhalants, it is important for them to be treated immediately.
Taking the individual to a hospital or emergency clinic could be necessary if they are experiencing full-blown seizures, hallucinations, or severe agitation. If the person is only dealing with mild withdrawal symptoms, they might be stable enough to go to a treatment center or detox facility where they will be able to settle into a controlled environment with treatments that will help lessen the withdrawal symptoms.
Addiction to Inhalants
The NIDA states, “Although it is not very common, addiction to inhalants can occur with repeated abuse.” When someone becomes addicted to inhalants, they will not be able to stop abusing the substances, even if they know that they are unhealthy for them. Inhalant abuse can become an addiction if it is consistent and the substances are abused in high amounts.
Some of the other effects associated with inhalant addiction are:
- General apathy toward everything that used to matter to the individual and responsibilities like work, school, and family
- A change in their social circles (as they are starting to spend time only with others who abuse inhalants or drugs)
- Hostility toward anyone who brings up their inhalant use negatively
- Cravings for inhalants and only being happy when abusing inhalants
These effects and the effect of inhalant addiction overall can be treated in a substance abuse treatment facility. Those individuals who need substance abuse treatment for their inhalant use disorders will receive therapy that helps them control their cravings and monitor their actions, changing the way they think about their inhalant abuse.
If you need someone to talk to because you believe you might be addicted to inhalants, a teacher, parent, or counselor will be able to help you as well.
Other Health Effects of Inhalant Abuse
There are other major health effects caused by inhalant abuse as well. Most are caused by long-term abuse, but some can appear early on. They are:
- Memory loss
- Malnourishment or weight loss
- Brain damage
- Liver damage
- Kidney stones and other kidney problems
- Nerve damage
- Limb spasms
Some of these issues can be easily reversed while others may take time. In some cases, it can be very difficult to reverse the effects of long-term inhalant abuse. But seeking help from your doctor is the first step unless you are already in a clinic for inhalant abuse treatment.
