Attention! You Must Know This About Inhalant Abuse
Consuming opioids is one of the biggest threats for Americans, but there are also some other threats that are lurking in the shadows. Inhalant abuse is one of the most concerning behaviours found especially in children. Kids around the age of 10 to 12 can begin “sniffing” and 60% of kids have a friend who uses “huffing” to get high.
Let’s know more about inhalant abuse, what are the signs and when you are in need of rehab:
What is Huffing and What Makes it So Dangerous?
Inhalants include compressed air or duster, aerosol whipped cream, gasoline, aerosol cooking spray or rubber cement. Sniffing these substances give you a high similar to alcohol. The reason why inhalants are so dangerous is that they can be found all over the house, kitchen, bathroom or garage.
Thousands of such inhalants are easily available and can be purchased from any ordinary grocery store for a few dollars. This provokes teens and adults to experience it. Inhalant abuse is known to be potentially deadly as it starves off human oxygen and is extremely risky. As the effect or high of inhalants wears off in a few minutes, it further encourages repeated usage. There might not be an immediate side effect but constantly depriving the body of oxygen can have long-term consequences, including liver, brain, and kidney damage.
What are the Signs?
Inhalant is not only popular among kids, as approximately 316,000 inhalant users in 2014 were adults. For the last 10 years, this number has remained steady.
Here are the signs that indicate inhalant abuse, for both kids and adults:
- Chemical smells on clothing or fabric
- Slurred speech
- Loss of appetite
- Drunk appearance
- Stains on clothing
- Empty containers
- Chemical-soaked rags
- Mood swings and Depression
- Weight loss
- Inattentiveness
- Lack of coordination
- Irritability, Weakness
When is Rehab Needed?
It gets very hard to get out of inhalant addiction, as the temptation is everywhere, making it easy to go into relapse. Changes in the brain is another effect of inhalant abuse, if suffering from it you may need to be treated for a dual diagnosis of mental illness and substance abuse. Here are a few of the treatments needed:
- Medical examination to check the liver, kidneys, heart and nervous system
- Detox
- Counselling,
- A continuing care plan to avoid the temptation in their natural environment
Inhalant abuse can very easily lead to brain damage, coma or death. Therefore, treatment is crucial for both adults and kids. So, why not call us now to discuss the way forward?