Inhalant Abuse Treatment Centers for Women | Sovereign Health of Arizona

Sniffing inhalants and aerosols, also known as “taking whippets” or “huffing,” is an inexpensive, albeit lesser-known form of substance abuse.

Due to the carbon dioxide and solvents that displace oxygen, aerosols induce brief and rapid feelings of dizziness and euphoria. Although inhalant abuse has historically been more common in men, use among women has skyrocketed in the past decade and its effects can affect women and their babies.

Sovereign Health of Arizona provides holistic treatment for inhalant abuse.

Abusing Inhalants

Inhalants are often the cheapest and most readily available means of obtaining a high. Inhalants starve the body of oxygen producing that temporary high.

“Sniffing” refers to inhaling the chemical vapors directly from open containers. Breathing the fumes from rags soaked in chemicals is called “huffing.” Some inhalant abusers spray the substance directly into the nose or mouth, or even pour it onto their collar, sleeves or cuffs and sniff them periodically. “Bagging” refers to the user inhaling substance fumes from inside a paper or plastic bag. Bagging in a closed area exacerbates the chances of suffocation.

Some of the most commonly abused inhalants include:

DIY project supplies such as wood varnishes, paint thinner and lacquer
Stationary supplies that include glues, whiteout and felt-tip markers
Cleaning supplies like aerosol air fresheners, keyboard dusters and deodorizers
Aerosol can cooking supplies, including whipped cream and nonstick spray
Art supplies like ink, paints and rubber cement
Shoe polish
Beauty supplies such as nail polish/remover, deodorants and hair spray
Automotive supplies, including gasoline, brake fluid, lubricants and refrigerants

Inhalant abuse is extremely dangerous, with lethal risks, as an inhalant abuser will seek any substance that looks to fit the bill, without comprehending different substances have various toxic ingredients that often cannot interact with other chemicals. If a user has multiple chemicals in the system, the result of inhaling can be disastrous making inhalant treatment extremely important.

Inhalant abuse also goes by the following street names:

Air blast
Ames
Bolt
Boppers
Bullet
Bullet bolt
Buzz bomb
Discorama
Hardware
Viagra in a bottle
Highball
Hippie crack
Huff
Laughing gas
Locker room

Medusa
Moon gas
Oz
Poor man’s pot
Poppers
Satan’s secret
Shoot the breeze
Snappers
Snotballs
Spray
Texas shoe shine
Thrust
Whippets
Whiteout

Symptoms of Inhalant Abuse

Elevated and irregular heart rate,
Hallucinations
Loss of coordination
Loss of consciousness

Nausea and vomiting
Nosebleeds
Slurred speech

Red Flags of Abuse

Inhalant abuse can be habit-forming, resulting in addiction. Red flags of addiction include:

Muscle weakness
Depressive symptoms
Loss of senses of smell and hearing

Learning and cognition impairments
Lung damage

Inhalants Withdrawal Symptoms

Inhalants withdrawal symptoms can include:

Agitation, with shaking
Chills
Convulsions
Excessive sweating

Hallucinations
Headaches
Muscle cramps
Nausea

Inhalants Inside the Body

Since a wide range of abused substances have multiple other toxic ingredients, the plausibility of damages within the body are endless.

“Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome” is due to a sudden and unexpected interruption of the heart’s rhythm. All inhalants can produce sudden sniffing death syndrome. Most abused inhalants other than nitrites depress the central nervous system similar to alcohol
Ingredients such as nitrites and paint thinner chemically block the oxygen carrying capacity in the bloodstream
One component of aerosol paints and correction fluid has been linked to liver damage
Inhalants containing toluene weaken the kidney’s ability to control the volume of acid in the blood. Kidney stones may develop in the long-term
Most inhalants are understood to dissolve the protective myelin sheath that surrounds neurons – resulting in brain cell death and subsequent permanent personality changes, memory impairment, hallucinations and learning disabilities when the cerebral cortex cells are effected
Inhalant-related damage results in loss of coordination and slurred speech. Chronic inhalant abuser’s experience tremors and uncontrollable shaking when the cerebellum is damaged
A common inhalant ingredient Toluene may affect a vision nerve causing sight disorders
Benzene, a component of gasoline – which is inhaled by some – has caused leukemia
Chronic inhalation of nitrous oxide, the whipped cream propellant and hexane an ingredient in some glues and camp stove fuels causes in damage to peripheral nerves. That leads to a tingling sensation, numbness or total paralysis

Treatment For Inhalant Abuse

With all that can occur in the body with use of inhalants, it becomes clear a person might likely have a deeper issue fueling them to mistreat her body so. Prior trauma, lowered inhibitions due to concurrent substance abuse or poor decision making capacity because of an underlying mental disorder might give way to the recklessness that is inhalant abuse.

Inhalant treatment needs to be inclusive of addressing any co-occurring mental health disorders or simultaneous addictions for recovery to be lasting.

Why Choose Sovereign Health?

Sovereign Health of Arizona is a women’s residential rehabilitation center located in Chandler, Arizona. Our expert clinical staff specializes in identifying unique needs and treatment plans for each client. The programs include treatment for drug and alcohol addiction, mental health disorders and co-occurring conditions. Additionally, this location provides a special emphasis on treating trauma. Call our 24/7 helpline for details.