Inhalant drugs: types, effects and symptoms of intoxication

Airborne use of chemicals such as glues and sprays is relatively common in low-socioeconomic adolescents, and can be very harmful.

In this article we will see what are inhalant drugs, what types are there and what are the symptoms and the risks of intoxication and abuse of these substances.

• Related article: "Types of drugs: know their characteristics and effects"

What are inhalant drugs?

We speak of inhalant drugs to refer to a series of chemical compounds with commercial or industrial uses (such as gasoline, glues or solvents) that sometimes are aspirated because their consumption has psychoactive effects related to its depressant activity on the central nervous system.

Although they are generally not related to addiction and drug dependence, inhalant drugs can be very harmful to anyone. abuses them, even if it is punctual: excessive doses can lead to death, and chronic use is associated with physical injuries and psychological disorders permanent.

Inhalant drug use is more common in adolescents (especially between the ages of 9 and 15 approximately) of low socioeconomic status. These young people often inhale the products in groups, and

They choose them because of their low price and the ease of accessing them compared to other psychoactive substances.

These products are consumed by various methods that depend on their physical characteristics: inhaling them from a bag, wetting rags and sucking them through the nose and mouth, spraying them directly on these lines (as in the case of aerosols), etc.

• You may be interested: "The 16 most addictive drugs in the world"

Symptoms of poisoning

Inhalant drug use has depressant effects on the central nervous system; This is why its symptoms and signs are similar to those that characterize substances such as alcohol, opioids, or drugs in the anxiolytic class, sedatives and hypnotics, among which we find the benzodiazepines and the barbiturates.

Thus, according to the DSM, a person can be considered to have been intoxicated with inhalants when contact with these substances causes psychological changes (for example, aggressiveness, decreased motivation, impaired judgment, deficits in social interaction, and decreased academic performance or labor) and at least two of the following signs:

• Dizziness, vertigo and balance disorders
• Uncontrollable and repetitive eye movements (nystagmus)
• Coordination problems of motor skills
• Alterations in the articulation of speech
• Unstable gait
• Tiredness, fatigue, drowsiness and lethargy
• Impaired reflex movements
• Psychomotor retardation
• Tremors
• Muscular weakness generalized
• Blurred or double vision (diplopia)
• Decreased level of consciousness until you get stupor and even eat
• Feelings of euphoria

Other possible symptoms of intoxication are perceptual alterations and hallucinations in the visual, auditory or tactile modalities, delusions, the presence of anxiety intense and distortions in the perception of time. When the depression of the central nervous system is very intense death may occur from cardiac or respiratory arrest.

In addition, the abuse of inhalant drugs favors the appearance of psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety disorders or acute psychosis. In the long term there may be a chronification of the cognitive alterations that we have mentioned, as well as permanent damage to the central and peripheral nervous system, in the liver or in the kidneys.

However, inhalant drugs have a very low addictive potential. The cases in which the criteria for the diagnosis of drug dependence are met are scarce and no true withdrawal syndrome has been identified (the main factor that determines addiction) associated with the interruption of the consumption of this type of substances.

Types of volatile substances

There are many commercial and industrial products that are susceptible to being used as inhalant drugs. Although the reinforcing effects of all of them are similar, falling into the category of depressant substances, differ in their side effect profile and in the possible physical and psychological consequences associated with its use.

1. Methyl alcohol (methanol)

Methyl alcohol is a chemical compound that is used to make products such as glues, antifreeze, and thinners. It is also alcohol with a simpler structure. Methanol abuse is associated with the appearance of physical weakness, headaches, and blindness between 6 and 30 hours after consumption, and can cause death.

2. Ketones

The most relevant inhalant within this class is acetone or propanone, which is used as a component of plastics, solvents, glues, glues, degreasers, medicines... Its consumption causes a characteristic and serious irritation of the skin, mucous membranes and the eyes; this phenomenon has been called "inhaler syndrome".

3. Esters

Esters, such as ethyl acetate or ethanoate (used primarily as a solvent), have similar effects to acetone: they cause the irritation typical of inhaler syndrome very often, although not as severely as in the case previous.

4. Anesthetics

The anesthetic that is most commonly used as an inhaled drug is trichlorethylene or TCE, which is also used to make solvents, degreasers and stain removers, among other products. Trichlorethylene can cause permanent liver damage, in the kidneys and in the nerves, especially in the cranial and more particularly the optic.

5. Aliphatic hydrocarbons

Aliphatic hydrocarbons like hexane are found in gasoline, solvents, and glues and glues. The abuse of these potential inhalants causes anemia, weakness and atrophy in the muscles, sensory deficits (mainly in tactile perception) and structural deterioration of the nervous system.

6. Aromatic hydrocarbons

Among this type of hydrocarbons it is worth highlighting toluene, gasoline component, glues, solvents and degreasers. In this case the symptoms of severe poisoning include nausea, stomach pain, poor appetite, tremors, clouding of consciousness, jaundice, and permanent damage to the liver, kidneys, and system highly strung.