PS268 Chapter Notes - Chapter 7: Frostbite, Bone Marrow, Amnesia
Module II: Legal Recreational Drugs
(Chapter 7: Inhalants)
7.1 − )nhalants
- Consumer items like paint thinners, adhesives, gasoline
o Products typically found under kitchen sink or in the garage
o Some chemicals in these products (ie. Toluene) are volatile
▪ If you take the lid off, it transitions from a liquid to gas, and you can breathe
vapors into your lungs
- When toluene-containing vapors are directly inhaled, they produce a very rapid and
short-lasting euphoria that some say resembles intoxication from alcohol
- Long-term abuse results in severe damage to the brain and body
o Arguable far worse than any other drug
o Tends to occur most frequently in the youngest/poorest people
Early Inhalants
−
Ether and Nitrous Oxide
- Ether:
o Discovered in early 1700s, quickly realized it could be inhaled to produce anesthesia
o Causes some people to go into convulsions
▪ May lead to choking, vomiting, and death
o Recreational potential was soon realized
▪ As a party gas − produces a drunk-like feeling
o Incredibly flammable
- Nitrous Oxide:
o Laughing gas
o Discovered in the late 1700s, quickly realized it produced extreme outbursts of
laughing in some users
o People began holding nitrous oxide parties
Modern Inhalants
- Note − effects produced by inhaling these chemicals are not solely due to the inhalation of
the chemicals themselves
o If the concentration of the vapors is high, it means the user will be breathing in a
lower amount of oxygen than normal
▪ Insufficient oxygen (hypoxia) can trigger euphoria
▪ Absence of oxygen (anoxia) may result in death
- Four major classes of substances:
o Volatile Solvents
o Aerosols, Propellants, Gases,
o Anesthetics
o Nitrites/Nitrates
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
1. Volatile Solvents: any chemical that quickly transitions from liquid to gas at room temp
o Includes paints, paint thinners, nail polish removers, correction fluids, glues, rubber
cements, etc.
o Stored as liquids in tightly-sealed containers
▪ When lid is removed, vapors that escape can be inhaled to get high
o Intentional inhalation of these vapors is known as Volatile Solvent Abuse
o Contain chemicals like toluene, acetone, benzene, etc.
▪ Toluene is the reason dependency can develop
• Is highly reinforcing
• Results in surges of dopamine in brain-reward pathways
• Tolerance and withdrawal when discontinued
2. Aerosols, Propellants, Gases: chemicals that are already gases at room temp
o Typically stored under relatively high pressure inside a canister
▪ Opening a nozzle allows high pressure gas to escape which can be breathed in
o Includes aerosolized spray paints and hair spray
o Nitrous Oxide used as a propellant in canisters of whip cream
▪ Canister is manipulated in a way that allows only nitrous oxide to escape,
and is then breathed in − whippets
3. Anesthetics: chemicals which when inhaled, result in rapid loss of consciousness
o Important uses in surgery
o Sometimes diverted from medical purposes
▪ Used in lower doses to produce intoxication
4. Nitrites/Nitrates:
o Some medications for angina (chest pain) are sprayed into the mouth
▪ Misuse can result in intoxication
o Poppers: when these medicines are misused
How Are Inhalants Used?
- Sniffing: users inhale solvents directly from a container, through the nose and mouth
o Common for volatile solvents
o Less commonly, users may heat solvent to increase evaporation rate
- Huffing: users soak material (ie. shirt sleeve/sock) in a solvent, and place it over nose and
mouth or right into mouth to inhale fumes
o Common for aerosolized chemicals which cannot be sprayed directly into mouth/nose
- Bagging: users inhale a concentration of fumes from a bag that is placed over the mouth
and nose or over the head
o Common for volatile solvents, like automotive fuels and paints
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Module ii: legal recreational drugs (chapter 7: inhalants) Consumer items like paint thinners, adhesives, gasoline: products typically found (cid:498)under kitchen sink(cid:499) or (cid:498)in the garage(cid:499, some chemicals in these products (ie. toluene) are volatile. If you take the lid off, it transitions from a liquid to gas, and you can breathe vapors into your lungs. When toluene-containing vapors are directly inhaled, they produce a very rapid and short-lasting euphoria that some say resembles intoxication from alcohol. Long-term abuse results in severe damage to the brain and body: arguable far worse than any other drug, tends to occur most frequently in the youngest/poorest people. Nitrous oxide: laughing gas, discovered in the late 1700s, quickly realized it produced extreme outbursts of laughing in some users, people began holding (cid:498)nitrous oxide parties(cid:499) Note effects produced by inhaling these chemicals are not solely due to the inhalation of the chemicals themselves.
