Commonly Abused Drugs

Inhalants

Solvents, aerosols, and gases found in household products such as spray paints, markers, glues, and cleaning fluids; also nitrites (e.g., amyl nitrite), which are prescription medications for chest pain.

Street Names Commercial Names Common Forms Common Ways Taken DEA Schedule
Poppers, snappers, whippets, laughing gas Various Paint thinners or removers, degreasers, dry-cleaning fluids, gasoline, lighter fluids, correction fluids, permanent markers, electronics cleaners and freeze sprays, glue, spray paint, hair or deodorant sprays, fabric protector sprays, aerosol computer cleaning products, vegetable oil sprays, butane lighters, propane tanks, whipped cream aerosol containers, refrigerant gases, ether, chloroform, halothane, nitrous oxide Inhaled through the nose or mouth Not scheduled

Possible Health Effects
Short-term Confusion; nausea; slurred speech; lack of coordination; euphoria; dizziness; drowsiness; disinhibition, lightheadedness, hallucinations/delusions; headaches; sudden sniffing death due to heart failure (from butane, propane, and other chemicals in aerosols); death from asphyxiation, suffocation, convulsions or seizures, coma, or choking.

Nitrites: enlarged blood vessels, enhanced sexual pleasure, increased heart rate, brief sensation of heat and excitement, dizziness, headache.
Long-term Liver and kidney damage; bone marrow damage; limb spasms due to nerve damage; brain damage from lack of oxygen that can cause problems with thinking, movement, vision, and hearing.

Nitrites: increased risk of pneumonia.
Other Health-related Issues Pregnancy: low birth weight, bone problems, delayed behavioral development due to brain problems, altered metabolism and body composition.
In Combination with Alcohol Nitrites: dangerously low blood pressure.
Withdrawal Symptoms Nausea, loss of appetite, sweating, tics, problems sleeping, and mood changes.
Treatment options
Medications There are no FDA-approved medications to treat inhalant addiction.
Behavioral Therapies More research is needed to find out if behavioral therapies can be used to treat inhalant addiction.