Inhalants
Inhalants are volatile substances that produce chemical vapors that can be inhaled to induce a psychoactive, or mind-altering, effect. Inhalants include a broad range of chemicals found in hundreds of differentproducts that may have different pharmacological effects. There are four general categories of inhalants:

• Volatile solvents are liquids that vaporize at room temperature and are found in products such as paint thinners/removers, dry-cleaning fluids, gasoline, correction fluids, and felt-tip marker fluids.
  
• Aerosols are sprays that contain propellants and solvents and include spray paints, deodorant and hair sprays, vegetable oil sprays for cooking, and fabric protector sprays.
  
• Gases used as inhalants include medical anesthetics (ether, chloroform, and nitrous oxide) as well as gases used in household or commercial products (butane lighters, propane tanks, whipped cream dispensers, and refrigerants).
  

Nitrites include cyclohexyl nitrite, isoamyl (amyl) nitrite, and isobutyl (butyl) nitrite, and are commonly known as "poppers" or "snappers."

Extent of Use
According to the 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), approximately 22.7 million Americans aged 12 or older reported using inhalants at least once during their lifetimes, representing 9.4% of the population aged 12 or older. Nearly 2.2 million (0.9%) reported past year inhalant use and 611,000 (0.3%) reported past month inhalant use. The 2005 NSDUH results also indicate that there were 877,000 persons aged 12 or older who had used inhalants for the first time within the past 12 months. Among students surveyed as part of the 2006 Monitoring the Future study, 29.2% of eighth graders, 40.1% of tenth graders, and 51.2% of twelfth graders reported lifetime use of inhalants.

Health Effects
Most inhalants act directly on the central nervous system (CNS) to produce psychoactive, or mind-altering, effects. They have short-term effects similar to anesthetics, which slow the body's function Most inhalants produce a rapid high that resembles alcohol intoxication with initial excitation, then drowsiness, disinhibition, lightheadedness, and agitation. If sufficient amounts are inhaled, nearly all solvents and gases produce anesthesia, a loss of sensation, and even loss of consciousness. Prolonged sniffing of the highly concentrated chemicals in solvents or aerosol sprays can induce irregular and rapid heart rhythms and lead to heart failure and death within minutes of a session of prolonged sniffing. This syndrome, known as "sudden sniffing death," can result from a single session of inhalant use. Chronic exposure to inhalants can produce significant, sometimes irreversible, damage to the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys. A strong need to continue using inhalants has been reported among many individuals, particularly those who abuse inhalants for prolonged periods over many days. Compulsive use and a mild withdrawal syndrome can occur with long-term inhalant abuse. Additional symptoms exhibited by long-term inhalant abusers include weight loss, muscle weakness, disorientation, inattentiveness, lack of coordination, irritability, and depression. Of an estimated 108 million emergency department (ED) visits in the U.S. during 2005, the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) estimates that 1,449,154 were drug-related. DAWN data indicate that inhalants were involved in 4,312 ED visits.

Treatment
From 1995 to 2005, the number of admissions to treatment in which inhalants was the primary drug of abuse decreased from 2,311 in 1995 to 1,372 in 2005. Inhalant admissions represented 0.1% of the total drug/alcohol admissions to treatment during 1995 and 2005.
Those admitted to treatment for inhalants during 2005 were primarily male (64.1%) and white (66.1%). Over 40% of the inhalant admissions in 2005 involved clients under the age of 20.15

Legislation
Although not regulated under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), many State legislatures have attempted to deter youth who buy legal products to get high by placing restrictions on the sale of these products to minors. As reported by the National Conference of State Legislatures, by 2000, 38 States had adopted laws preventing the sale, use, and/or distribution to minors of various products commonly abused as inhalants. Some States have introduced fines, incarceration, or mandatory treatment for the sale, distribution, use, and/or possession of inhalable chemicals.


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