Are there any side effects to taking inhalants?

Are there any side effects to taking inhalants?

Photo credit: Thomas Tamm. Inhalants starve the body of oxygen and force the heart to beat irregularly and more rapidly. Users can experience nausea and nosebleeds and lose their sense of hearing or smell.

Can a person be addicted to an inhalant drug?

Yes, inhalants can be physically and psychologically addictive. This makes inhalants a form of substance use disorder (SUD). An SUD develops when continuing to use the drug causes health problems and consequences at work, school, or home. SUDs range from mild to severe. The most severe form is addiction.

What kind of damage does inhalant do to the brain?

Regular inhalant use destroys nerves in the brain. This causes problems with cognition, movement, vision and hearing. Severe damage can lead to dementia. The substances also cause irreversible damage to other organs, according to the Center for Substance Abuse Research.

What happens when a person overdoses on inhalants?

A person can overdose on inhalants. Because inhalant overdose can lead to seizures or cause the heart to stop, first responders and emergency room doctors try to stop the seizure or restart the heart. Although it’s not very common, repeated use of inhalants can lead to addiction, a form of substance use disorder.

How can common inhalants harm you?

Inhalants decrease oxygen to the brain and can cause brain damage. Using an inhalant just one time can lead to life-threatening health problems, and even cause death.

What can Inhalants cause permanent damage to?

Inhalants are chemical vapors that alter the mind when breathed in. These extremely poisonous chemicals can cause death by triggering a rapid, irregular heartbeat. This is called sudden sniffing death syndrome. They can also cause death by suffocation. And inhalants can cause lifelong (permanent) damage to the brain, liver, and kidneys.

How can inhalants be deadly?

Inhalants can disrupt heart rhythms and cause death from cardiac arrest, or lower oxygen levels enough to cause suffocation. Regular abuse of these substances can result in serious harm to vital organs, including the brain, heart, kidneys, and liver.

What are the legal consequences for using inhalants?

In most misdemeanor cases, it is uncommon for a person to be given jail time. However, jail is possible for a Class B misdemeanor. The first time a person is convicted of inhalant abuse, he can be sentenced to 90 days in jail.