Inhalants were popular in what country?
Ancient Greece
In the US where was inhalants first noted?
California
Reasons for popularity of inhalants
- rapid onset
- quality of high
- low cost
- easy availability
- convenient packaging
- legal
What type of inhalant is very commonly missed?
butane lighter, refill canister, propane canister
- aliphatic hydrocarbon
What type of inhalant is gasoline?
aliphatic hydrocarbons
toluene
xylene
aromatic hydrocarbon
What type of inhalant are room odorizes?
nitrites
Bagging inhalants
inhaled from paper or plastic bag
Sniffing inhalants
agent is inhaled directly from container or sprayed into nose/mouth
Stages of acute intoxication of inhalants
- excitation (euphoria, sneezing, coughing)
- CNS depression (confused, disoriented)
- marked CNS depression (ataxia)
- stupor (seizures)
Chronic misuse of inhalants
- psychosocial complications
- failure in school
- delinquency
- depression
- poor adjustment to societal stress
- more likely to misuse other substances
chronic misuse of inhalants
- organic complications
- diffuse CNS disease
- cerebellar disease
- peripheral neuropathy
Addictive properties of inhalants
- rarely produce physical manifestations of withdrawal
- psychological dependence
- tolerance in sniffers (3 months of weekly usage)
Treatment of inhalants
- stabilization
- fresh air
- cardiac monitoring
- evaluation
- electrolytes
- ID solvent and screen for complications
- renal and liver function tests
What works for prevention of inhalants?
- school based curriculum beginning in kidergarten
What doesn’t work in prevention of inhalants?
supply reduction
- limiting availability
- adding noxious chemicals
- reformulation product without solvent
- warning labels
- laws
Aromatic hydrocarbon solvents
xylene
toluene
benzene
Manifestations of aromatic hydrocarbons
euphoria excitement dizziness confusion lacrimation headache nervousness
chronic use of toluene syndromes
- GI: n&v, abd pain, hematemesis
- muscle weakness
- neuropsychiatric: altered mental state
- metabolic acidosis
Aliphatic hydrocarbons
- butane: narcotic-like properties
- gasoline: act as anesthetics (mixture saturated hydrocarbons and aromatic and unsaturated hydrocarbons)
15-20 breaths of gasoline produce intoxication for how long?
3-6 hours within 3-5 minutes
Symptoms of nitrous oxide
floating sensation euphoria visual hallucinations coma respiratory depression seizures
What were nitrites popular for?
gay population as sphincter relaxant
enhance orgasm
