Inhalants

How are inhalants used?

Inhalants are breathed in through the nose or mouth.

They may be sprayed into a plastic bag, poured into a bottle or soaked onto a cloth or sleeve before being inhaled.

Sometimes they are inhaled directly from the container or are sprayed directly into the mouth or nose. This method is very dangerous because it can cause suffocation.³

Effects of inhalants

Use of any drug can have risks. It’s important to be careful when taking any type of drug.

Inhalants affect everyone differently, based on:

• Size, weight and health
• Whether the person is used to taking it
• Whether other drugs are taken around the same time
• The amount used
• The type of inhalant used
• Amount of fresh air breathed while sniffing
• Amount of physical activity before and after sniffing

Effects include:

• feelings of excitement and euphoria
• feeling relaxed
• increased risk-taking
• loss of coordination
• dizzy/light-headed
• visual distortions
• confusion
• irritation to eyes/nose/throat
• nausea
• headaches.⁴

Overdose

If you inhale a substance too many times or use a particularly strong inhalant, you could overdose. This is also referred to as ‘acute intoxication’. Call an ambulance straight away by dialling triple zero (000) if you, or someone else, has any of the following symptoms (Emergency services are there to help and can provide instructions over the phone):

• nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea
• irregular heartbeat
• chest pain
• delirium
• hallucinations
• blackout, seizures and coma.^1,5

A person recovering from acute intoxication should be kept in a safe place and monitored by medical professionals until they have fully recovered. Recovery can take around 2-4 hours or longer if they regularly use inhalants.⁶

Sudden death

Inhaling certain substances has been known to cause sudden death. Death from inhalant use can occur as a result of:

• Sudden sniffing death – when someone experiences cardiac arrest or heart failure after using inhalants. The chemicals in inhalants can cause a spike in adrenaline which the heart is sensitive to, resulting in cardiac arrest. This is particularly risky if the person is stressed or does heavy exercise after inhaling.^4,7
• Suffocation – this is when the gas inhaled takes the place of oxygen in the lungs, either from using in enclosed spaces (without fresh air), or from dangerous practices such as placing a plastic bag being placed over the head. Spraying some substances directly into the mouth can freeze the throat and airways, causing the person to suffocate.⁸

Low aromatic fuels

Unleaded petrol has been replaced by low aromatic fuels such as BP’s Opal fuel in some rural and remote communities in Australia. Sniffing low aromatic fuels does not produce a high but can still cause damage to a person’s health including death.⁹

See Low aromatic fuel.

Coming down

In the days after inhalant use, you may experience:

• headaches
• nausea
• dizziness
• drowsiness
• mental numbness.¹

Long-term effects

Regular use of inhalants may eventually cause:

• irritability and depression
• memory loss
• reduced attention span and ability to think clearly
• pimples around the mouth and lips
• pale appearance
• tremors
• weight loss
• reduced growth potential (height)
• tiredness
• excessive thirst
• loss of sense of smell and hearing
• problems with blood production, which may result in anaemia, irregular heartbeat, heart muscle damage
• chest pain and angina
• indigestion and stomach ulcers
• liver and kidney damage
• needing to use more to get the same effect
• dependence on inhalants
• financial, work and social problems^1,5,10

Most of these long-term effects can be reversed if use is stopped. However, some inhalants can cause permanent damage.⁵

Inhalants and mental health

Regular inhalant use is associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety disorders and issues with other drugs and/or alcohol.4 This doesn’t necessarily mean that inhalants cause these issues, but the use of inhalants can bring them on or make them worse. People who use inhalants are also more likely to experience stressful events such as having problems at school, home or work.⁴

Tolerance and dependence

People who regularly use inhalants can quickly become dependent on the drug. People who are dependent on inhalants might find that using them becomes far more important than other things in their lives, such as work, sport, socialising or study.4 They may also develop a tolerance to it, which means they need to take larger amounts of inhalants to get the same effect.4

Mixing inhalants with other drugs

Mixing inhalants with other drugs can have unpredictable effects and increase the risk of harm.

• Inhalants and alcohol/benzodiazepines/opioids: Can affect breathing rate and may increase the risk of losing consciousness or suffocating. ^4,7

Reducing harm

There are ways you can reduce the risk of harm when using inhalants:

• avoid sniffing in an enclosed space or indoors
• avoid running or doing other physical activity after sniffing (could cause death due to cardiac sensitisation or lead to injuries/accidents)
• avoid sniffing near roads or traffic, high places such as rooftops, or near water, beaches, lakes
• avoid mixing inhalants with other drugs, including prescribed medication and illicit substances
• avoid sniffing alone
• do not spray directly into mouth or put plastic bag over head. This can cause suffocation.^4,7,11

Withdrawal

Giving up inhalants after using them for a long time is challenging because the body has to get used to functioning without them. Withdrawal symptoms usually start 24-48 hours after the last use, and may last for 2 to 5 days.⁵  These symptoms can include:

• Hangover
• Headache, nausea and stomach pain
• Tiredness, shakiness, tremors
• Cramps
• Hallucinations and visual disorders, such as seeing spots.⁵

Getting help

If your use of inhalants is affecting your health, family, relationships, work, school, financial or other life situations, or you’re concerned about a loved one, you can find help and support.

Call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015 for free and confidential advice, information and counselling about alcohol and other drugs

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If you're looking for other information or support options, send us an email at druginfo@adf.org.au

Other help, support services and resources

Links to further help and support

Information on inhalants and young people

More information

Family Drug Help – 1300 660 068 – www.familydrughelp.com.au

Family Drug Support – 1300 368 186 – www.fds.org.au

Parent and Family Drug Support Line - 1800 653 203 - www.mhc.wa.gov.au/parentandfamilydrugsupportline