Commonly Abused Drugs
Review this page which describes the acute effects and the health risks of both legal and illegal drugs.
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. |