N ational S urvey on D rug Use and H ealth

The NSDUH Report March 15, 2007

Patterns and Trends in Inhalant

Use by Adolescent Males and
Females: 2002-2005

I
nhalants are common household sub-
In Brief stances that are sniffed or “huffed”
to give the user an immediate high.
● Inhalant use in the past year among youths
aged 12 to 17 remained stable overall and Their easy accessibility, low cost, and
for males between 2002 and 2005; however, ease of concealment make inhalants one
the rate of past year inhalant use among of the most commonly used substances
females increased from 4.1 percent in 2002
to 4.9 percent in 2005
among adolescents.1
The National Household Survey on
● Combined data from 2002 to 2005 indicate Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) asks
that recent female inhalant initiates aged 12
to 17 were more likely than their male
respondents aged 12 or older questions
counterparts to have used glue, shoe polish, related to their use of inhalants during
or toluene (34.9 vs. 25.8 percent); spray their lifetime and in the past year. Inhal-
paints (26.1 vs. 20.8 percent); aerosol sprays ants are defined as “liquids, sprays, and
other than spray paints (23.0 vs. 16.4
percent); correction fluid, degreaser, or gases that people sniff or inhale to get
cleaning fluid (23.4 vs. 13.6 percent); and high or to make them feel good.” The
amyl nitrite, “poppers,” locker room odorizers, categories of inhalants asked about in the
or “rush” (18.2 vs. 11.6 percent). Recent male
inhalant initiates were more likely than their
survey are (a) amyl nitrite, “poppers,”
female counterparts to have used nitrous locker room odorizers, or “rush”; (b) cor-
oxide or whippets (29.0 vs. 19.3 percent) rection fluid, degreaser, or cleaning fluid;
● Among recent inhalant initiates, use of
(c) gasoline or lighter fluid; (d) glue, shoe
nitrous oxide or whippets declined from 31.6 polish, or toluene; (e) halothane, ether,
percent in 2002 to 21.3 percent in 2005, or other anesthetics; (f) lacquer thinner
while use of aerosol sprays other than spray or other paint solvents; (g) lighter gases,
paints increased from 12.6 percent in 2002
to 25.4 percent in 2005 such as butane or propane; (h) nitrous

The NSDUH Report (formerly The NHSDA Report) is published periodically by the Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration (SAMHSA). All material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission
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NSDUH REPORT: PATTERNS AND TRENDS IN INHALANT USE BY ADOLESCENT MALES AND FEMALES: 2002-2005 March 15, 2007

oxide or whippets; (i) spray paints; and (j) other

Figure 1. Percentages of Past Year Use of Specific
aerosol sprays. Other aerosol sprays include prod-
Types of Inhalants among Recent Inhalant Initiates
ucts such as aerosol air fresheners, aerosol hair Aged 12 to 17: 2002-2005*,**
spray, and aerosol cleaning products (e.g., dusting
sprays, furniture polish); the category excludes
spray paint. Respondents who used inhalants 30.5
Glue, Shoe Polish,
were asked when they first used them; responses or Toluene 25.8
to this question were used to identify persons who 34.9

had initiated use in the 12 months before the 25.3

Gasoline or
survey.2 This report examines patterns and trends Lighter Fluid
26.4
in rates of inhalant use among youths aged 12 to 24.4
17 based on data from the 2002, 2003, 2004, and 23.9
2005 NSDUHs. Nitrous Oxide
29.0
or Whippets
19.3

Inhalant Use, by Gender 23.5

Spray Paints 20.8
Combined data from 2002 to 2005 indicate that
26.1
an annual average of 4.5 percent of youths aged
12 to 17 (an estimated 1.1 million adolescents) 19.8
Other Aerosol
used inhalants in the past year, with males and Sprays***
16.4
23.0
females being equally likely to report such use.
Combined data also indicate that an annual Correction Fluid, 18.7
average of 600,000 youths (289,000 males and Degreaser, or 13.6
311,000 females) were recent initiates of inhalants Cleaning Fluid 23.4
(i.e., they used inhalants for the first time in the Amyl Nitrite, 15.0
12 months before the survey); this represents 2.6 “Poppers,” 11.6
Locker Room
percent of all youths who had not previously used Odorizers, or “Rush” 18.2
inhalants (2.5 percent of males and 2.7 percent of
12.2
females). Lacquer Thinner
12.8
or Other Solvents
Combined data from 2002 to 2005 indicate 11.6
that 30.5 percent of recent inhalant initiates used
9.1
glue, shoe polish, or toluene in the past year; Lighter Gases,
such as Butane 10.2
25.3 percent used gasoline or lighter fluid; 23.9 or Propane 8.0
percent used nitrous oxide or whippets; and 23.5
percent used spray paints (Figure 1). There were 3.4 Total
Halothane, Ether,
3.1 Male
some differences in the types of inhalants used by or Other Anesthetics
Female
3.7
gender. Recent female initiates were more likely
than their male counterparts to have used glue, 0% 10% 20% 30% 40%
shoe polish, or toluene (34.9 vs. 25.8 percent);
spray paints (26.1 vs. 20.8 percent); other aerosol Source: SAMHSA, 2002-2005 NSDUHs.
sprays3 (23.0 vs. 16.4 percent); correction fluid,
degreaser, or cleaning fluid (23.4 vs. 13.6 per-
cent); and amyl nitrite, “poppers,” locker room
odorizers, or “rush” (18.2 vs. 11.6 percent).
Trends in Inhalant Use
Recent male initiates were more likely than their Inhalant use in the past year among youths aged
female counterparts to have used nitrous oxide or 12 to 17 remained stable overall and for males
whippets (29.0 vs. 19.3 percent). between 2002 and 2005 (Figure 2). However,
March 15, 2007 NSDUH REPORT: PATTERNS AND TRENDS IN INHALANT USE BY ADOLESCENT MALES AND FEMALES: 2002-2005

Figure 2. Trends in Past Year Inhalant Use among Table 1. Trends in Past Year Use of Specific Types of
Youths Aged 12 to 17, by Gender: Percentages, 2002- Inhalants among Past Year Inhalant Initiates Aged 12
2005 to 17: Percentages, 2002-2005*,**

5% Type of Inhalant 2002 2003 2004 2005

4.6 4.7 4.9
4.6 4.5 Amyl Nitrite, “Poppers,” Locker
4.4 4.5 4.6 14.0 17.0 12.6 16.4
4.2 Room Odorizers, or “Rush”
4% 4.1 4.3
Correction Fluid, Degreaser, or
15.7 19.7 19.6 19.6
Cleaning Fluid
Gasoline or Lighter Fluid 26.2 23.2 25.3 26.7
3% Glue, Shoe Polish, or Toluene 32.9 30.2 27.7 31.3
Halothane, Ether, or Other
2.9 2.9 4.5 3.4
Anesthetics
2% Lacquer Thinner or Other
13.9 10.7 10.8 13.3
Paint Solvents
Lighter Gases, such as
9.3 9.7 9.2 8.1
1% Butane or Propane
Total Nitrous Oxide or Whippets 31.6 23.0 20.1 21.3
Male
Female Spray Paints 21.4 23.3 25.4 23.9
0%
2002 2003 2004 2005 Other Aerosol Sprays*** 12.6 17.6 23.6 25.4

Source: SAMHSA, 2002-2005 NSDUHs. Source: SAMHSA, 2002-2005 NSDUHs.

the rate of past year inhalant use among females percent in 2002 to 26.4 percent in 2005, but it
increased from 4.1 percent in 2002 to 4.9 percent remained stable for females. Rates of use of other
in 2005. The number of recent inhalant initiates aerosol sprays3 among recent inhalant initiates
remained relatively stable between 2002 and increased for both males (10.9 percent in 2002 to
2005, with 591,000 youths initiating use of inhal- 19.3 percent in 2005) and females (14.3 percent in
ants in 2002 and 605,000 youths initiating use of 2002 to 30.2 percent in 2005).
inhalants in 2005 (for males: 306,000 in 2002 and
268,000 in 2005; for females: 285,000 in 2002 End Notes
and 337,000 in 2005). 1 Office of Applied Studies. (2006). Results from the 2005 National Survey
on Drug Use and Health: National findings (DHHS Publication No. SMA
06-4194, NSDUH Series H-30). Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental
Trends in Specific Types of Health Services Administration.
2 Respondents whose age at first inhalant use was equal to or 1 year less
Inhalant Use than their current age were asked to indicate the month in which they initi-
ated their inhalant use.
Among recent inhalant initiates, trends in the use 3 Other aerosol sprays includes products such as aerosol air fresheners, aero-
of most of the specific types of inhalants remained sol hair spray, and aerosol cleaning products (e.g., dusting sprays, furniture
polish); the category excludes spray paint.
relatively stable; however, there were a few excep-
tions (Table 1). Among recent inhalant initiates,
use of nitrous oxide or whippets declined from Figure and Table Notes
31.6 percent in 2002 to 21.3 percent in 2005, and * Recent inhalant initiates are defined as youths who used inhalants for the
use of other aerosol sprays3 increased from 12.6 first time during the 12 months prior to the survey.
** Respondents could report using more than one type of inhalant. Therefore,
percent in 2002 to 25.4 percent in 2005. Among percentages sum to more than 100 percent.
recent initiates, the rate of use of nitrous oxide *** See end note 3.
or whippets declined among males from 40.2
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Research findings from the SAMHSA 2002-2005 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs)

Patterns and Trends in Inhalant The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) is an annual survey
sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA). Prior to 2002, this survey was called the National Household Survey on

Use by Adolescent Males and Drug Abuse (NHSDA). The 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005 data used in this report are
based on information obtained from 91,145 persons aged 12 to 17, including 46,431
males and 44,714 females. The survey collects data by administering questionnaires

Females: 2002-2005 to a representative sample of the population through face-to-face interviews at their
place of residence.

The NSDUH Report is prepared by the Office of Applied Studies (OAS), SAMHSA,
● Inhalant use in the past year among youths aged 12 to 17 and by RTI International in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. (RTI International
is a trade name of Research Triangle Institute.)
remained stable overall and for males between 2002 and
Information on NSDUH used in compiling data for this issue is available in the
2005; however, the rate of past year inhalant use among following publications:
females increased from 4.1 percent in 2002 to 4.9 percent in Office of Applied Studies. (2006). Results from the 2005 National Survey on Drug Use
2005 and Health: National findings (DHHS Publication No. SMA 06-4194, NSDUH Series
H-30). Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
● Combined data from 2002 to 2005 indicate that recent female Office of Applied Studies. (2005). Results from the 2004 National Survey on Drug Use
inhalant initiates aged 12 to 17 were more likely than their and Health: National findings (DHHS Publication No. SMA 05-4062, NSDUH Series
H-28). Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
male counterparts to have used glue, shoe polish, or toluene
Office of Applied Studies. (2004). Results from the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use
(34.9 vs. 25.8 percent); spray paints (26.1 vs. 20.8 percent); and Health: National findings (DHHS Publication No. SMA 04-3964, NSDUH Series
aerosol sprays other than spray paints (23.0 vs. 16.4 per- H-25). Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
cent); correction fluid, degreaser, or cleaning fluid (23.4 vs. Office of Applied Studies. (2003). Results from the 2002 National Survey on Drug Use
13.6 percent); and amyl nitrite, “poppers,” locker room odoriz- and Health: National findings (DHHS Publication No. SMA 03-3836, NSDUH Series
H-22). Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
ers, or “rush” (18.2 vs. 11.6 percent). Recent male inhalant
initiates were more likely than their female counterparts to Also available online: http://www.oas.samhsa.gov.

have used nitrous oxide or whippets (29.0 vs. 19.3 percent) Because of improvements and modifications to the 2002 NSDUH, estimates from
the 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005 surveys should not be compared with estimates
from the 2001 or earlier versions of the survey to examine changes over time.
● Among recent inhalant initiates, use of nitrous oxide or
whippets declined from 31.6 percent in 2002 to 21.3 percent U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration
in 2005, while use of aerosol sprays other than spray paints Office of Applied Studies
increased from 12.6 percent in 2002 to 25.4 percent in 2005 www.samhsa.gov