INTELLIGENCE BRIEF

Product No. 2002-J0403-001

U. S . D E P A R T M E N T O F
NOVEMBER 2001
J U S T I C E

Photo courtesy of DEA

The abuse of inhalants is widespread across the United States;
however, it may be underreported because law enforcement offi-
cials and healthcare providers are often unfamiliar with the signs
of inhalant abuse. Abusers, primarily adolescents, inhale chemical
vapors from a variety of substances, many of which are common
household products. These young people abuse inhalants in order to obtain a euphoric effect and are often
unaware of the potential risks, which include brain damage and death. Some adults also abuse inhalants,
particularly nitrites. Adult abusers often inhale substances in order to enhance their sexual experiences.

Introduction
Inhalant abuse, commonly called huffing, is the Abusers frequently inhale gases found in butane light-
purposeful inhalation of chemical vapors to achieve ers, air conditioning units, and propane tanks. Medical
an altered mental or physical state, which for most anesthetics such as ether, chloroform, and nitrous ox-
abusers is a euphoric effect. Abusers inhale vapors ide are also abused. Nitrous oxide, commonly called
emitted from a wide range of substances. In fact, laughing gas, is abused more frequently than any other
chemical vapors used as inhalants can be found in gas. It can be obtained from whipped cream dispensers
over 1,000 common household products. There are or products that boost octane levels in racing cars. It
several general categories for substances that may may also be purchased in balloons or in small, sealed
be used as inhalants: vials called whippets, which are sold at raves or drug
paraphernalia stores.
Volatile solvents are liquids that vaporize at
room temperature if left in unsealed containers. Paint Nitrites are a group of chemicals including
thinner, gasoline, correction fluid, felt-tip markers, cyclohexyl nitrite, amyl nitrite, and butyl nitrite.
nail polish and remover, and glue (such as rubber Nitrites are used mainly to enhance sexual experi-
cement) all contain volatile solvents. ences rather than to achieve a euphoric effect.
Cyclohexyl nitrite is found in room deodorizers.
Aerosols are sprays that contain propellants and Amyl nitrite comes in small, mesh-covered, sealed
solvents such as toluene—one of the most common capsules that are popped or snapped in order to re-
solvents found in aerosols. Common aerosols include lease the vapors. Because of this popping or snap-
paint, deodorant, hair products, cooking products, ping, these capsules are frequently called poppers or
and fabric protector. Silver and gold spray paint are snappers. Butyl nitrite is often sold in small bottles
particularly popular among inhalant abusers. that, like amyl nitrite capsules, are referred to as pop-
Gases are substances that lack definite shape or pers. Nitrites are available in adult bookstores and
volume such as refrigerants and medical anesthetics. shops and over the Internet.
Huffing–The Abuse of Inhalants

Who abuses inhalants? of males and 14.6 percent of females admitted hav-
ing used inhalants at least once in their lifetime. Simi-
According to the 2000 National Household larly, 4.4 percent of males and 3.9 percent of females
Survey on Drug Abuse, the number of new inhalant reported having used inhalants at least once in the
abusers rose approximately 158 percent from an es- 30 days preceding the survey.
timated 392,000 in 1990 to 1,010,000 in 1999. The
primary user group was composed of 12- to 17-year- Adults Also Abuse Inhalants
olds—over 636,000 had tried inhalants for the first While adolescents are the primary group abusing inhalants,
time in 1999. This number is more than double that a study by the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug
of the 18- to 25-year-old user group (276,000.) Al- Abuse (TCADA) found that adults also abuse inhalants. An
most 17 million individuals have experimented with analysis of 144 Texas death certificates involving misuse or
inhalants at some point in their lives. abuse of inhalants from 1988 to 1998 indicates that the aver-
age age of those who suffered inhalant deaths was 25.6 with
Inhalants are the fourth most abused substances
ages ranging from 8 to 62. In the same analysis of Texas
in the United States among eighth, tenth, and twelfth
death certificates, TCADA found that the most frequently
graders; alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana are the
mentioned inhalant (35%) was Freon (51 deaths). Of the
top three, according to the 2000 Monitoring the Fu-
Freon deaths, 42 percent were students or youth (mean age
ture Study. By the time adolescents reach the eighth
of 16.4 years), and 37 percent were involved in occupations
grade, one in five has tried inhalants at least once.
where Freon was readily available.
Prevalence of lifetime abuse has consistently been
higher among eighth graders than among tenth and Source: Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse,
twelfth graders. In 2000, 18 percent of eighth grad- Substance Abuse Trends in Texas: June 2001.
ers, 17 percent of tenth graders and 14 percent of
twelfth graders admitted having used inhalants at Where are inhalants abused?
least once in their lifetime. Statistics showing higher
lifetime use among eighth graders may be due to the Inhalants are abused throughout the country.
fact that frequent inhalant abusers typically drop out According to the 1999 YRBS, in 11 states the per-
of school and consequently do not participate in the centage of high school students who reported hav-
tenth and twelfth grade surveys. ing used inhalants at least once in their lifetime
exceeded the national average of 14.6 percent. The
Data from the 1999 Youth Risk Behavior Sur- states having the highest percentage of inhalant
vey (YRBS) indicate that 14.6 percent of students in abuse are West Virginia (20.4%), Tennessee
grades 9 through 12 have abused inhalants at least (19.2%), Nevada (19.0%), Wyoming (17.6%),
once in their lifetime; 4.2 percent of the students re- Ohio (17.1%), Arkansas (16.7%), Montana
ported having abused inhalants at least once in the (16.5%), Wisconsin (16.2%), Alabama (16.1%),
30 days preceding the survey. Males and females Michigan (15.6%), and North Dakota (15.5%).
abused inhalants at nearly equal rates—14.7 percent

How are inhalants abused?

Inhalants are breathed in through the nose or
mouth in a variety of ways. Abusers begin by
inhaling deeply; they then take several more breaths.
Abusers may inhale, by sniffing or snorting, chemi-
cal vapors directly from open containers or by huffing
fumes from rags that are soaked in a chemical sub-
stance and then held to the face or stuffed in the mouth.
Other methods include spraying aerosols directly into
Source: Monitoring the Future 2000.

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 National Drug Intelligence Center

the nose or mouth or pouring inhalants onto the user’s While abusers of other inhalants seek a
collar, sleeves, or cuffs and sniffing them over a pe- euphoric effect, nitrite abusers—who tend to be
riod of time (such as during a class in school). In a adults rather than adolescents—seek to enhance the
practice known as bagging, fumes are inhaled from sexual experience. Inhaled nitrites dilate blood
substances sprayed or deposited inside a paper or plas- vessels, increase heart rate, and produce a sensation
tic bag. Alternatively, the fumes may be discharged of heat and excitement that can last for several minutes.
into small containers such as soda cans and then in- According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, use
haled from the can. Users may also inhale from bal- of these drugs is associated with unsafe sexual practices
loons filled with nitrous oxide or other devices such that greatly increase the risk of contracting and spread-
as snappers and poppers in which inhalants are sold. ing infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis.
Chronic inhalant abuse may result in serious and
Signs of Abuse sometimes irreversible damage to the user’s heart,
· Drunk or disoriented appearance liver, kidneys, lungs, and brain. Brain damage may
result in personality changes, diminished cognitive
· Paint or other stains on face, hands, or clothing functioning, memory impairment, and slurred speech.
· Hidden empty spray paint or solvent containers
and chemical-soaked rags or clothing Death from inhalant abuse can occur after a
single use or after prolonged use. Sudden sniffing
· Slurred speech death (SSD) may result within minutes of inhalant
· Strong chemical odors on breath or clothing abuse from irregular heart rhythm leading to heart
· Nausea or loss of appetite failure. Other causes of death include asphyxiation,
aspiration, or suffocation. A user who is suffering
· Red or runny nose from impaired judgment may also experience fatal
· Sores or rash around the nose or mouth injuries from motor vehicle accidents or sudden falls.
Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse, Research Report
Series, Inhalant Abuse, 10 May 2001. According to Drug Abuse Warning Network
(DAWN) Medical Examiner data, inhalants were a
factor in over 500 deaths in the United States from
1996 to 1999. Medical examiner data provided by
What are the effects? DAWN cover only 40 metropolitan areas in the
United States; thus, many inhalant-related deaths
For most users, inhalant abuse results in a rapid across the country are not reflected in DAWN data.
euphoric effect that is similar to alcohol intoxica-
tion. Users experience initial excitation, then drowsi-
ness, lightheadedness, and agitation. Inhalant abusers Street Terms for Inhalants
also report feeling a loss of inhibitions. The chemicals Amys Head cleaner
found in volatile solvents, aerosols, and gases produce Bang Hippie crack
a variety of additional effects during or shortly after Bolt Kick
use that include dizziness, strong hallucinations, de- Boppers Locker room
lusions, belligerence, apathy, and impaired judgment. Bullet Poor man’s pot
Additional symptoms exhibited by long-term inhal- Climax Poppers
ant abusers include weight loss, muscle Glading Rush
weakness, disorientation, inattentiveness, lack of co- Gluey Snappers
ordination, irritability, and depression. Withdrawal Hardware Toncho (octane booster)
symptoms include sweating, rapid pulse, hand trem-
ors, insomnia, nausea or vomiting, hallucinations, Source: Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP),
Drug Policy Information Clearinghouse Fact Sheet —
and, in severe cases, grand mal seizures. Inhalants, June 2001.

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Huffing–The Abuse of Inhalants

Outlook
Easy accessibility and the relatively low cost of the substances abused indicate that inhalant abuse will
attract new users and continue to be a problem in the United States. Authorities have recognized the problem
of inhalant abuse; 46 states (excluding Alabama, Arkansas, Montana, and Wyoming) and the Commonwealth
of the Northern Mariana Islands have enacted laws to address the issue. Inhalants are dangerous poisons that
were never designed for human consumption. Prevention and information campaigns will increase awareness of
the negative effects of inhalant abuse and may help to make this practice less appealing to our nation’s youth.

Sources
Alcohol and Drug Help Line, Washington State, www.adhl.org
American Academy of Pediatrics, www.aap.org
The Boston Globe
City of Ashland Police Department, Wisconsin
Conway, Deborah. “Inhalants Stink! Sniff Them Out to Protect Kids,” Education Digest, September 2000
Falkowski, Carol. Dangerous Drugs, Center City, MN: Halzelden Information and Educational Services, 2000
Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pittsburgh Field Division
Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association, www.fadaa.org
Inaba, Darryl S., William E. Cohen, and Michael E. Holstein. Uppers, Downers, All Arounders: Physical and Mental
Effects of Psychoactive Drugs, 3rd ed. Ashland: CNS, 1997
Join Together Online, www.jointogether.org
Kurtzman, Tracey L., Kimberly N. Otsuka, and Richard A. Wahl. “Inhalant Use by Adolescents,” Journal of
Adolescent Health 2001. New York: Elsevier Science, 2001
Maxwell, Jane C. “Deaths Related to the Inhalation of Volatile Substances–Texas, 1988-1998,” American Journal of
Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Vol. 27, 2001
Mercie, Susan. “Nitrous Oxide & Nitrite Inhalants: Funny Facts,” Do It Now Foundation, May 2000
National Conference of State Legislatures
National Inhalant Prevention Coalition, www.inhalants.org
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Office of National Drug Control Policy
Partnership for a Drug-Free America
Philadelphia Inquirer
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Texas Commission on Drug and Alcohol Abuse

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