Q: What are solvents and inhalants?
A: Solvents are liquids that can dissolve a lot of different stuff. They are made from oil and natural gas. Because most people who use solvents to get high sniff or breathe (inhale) them, solvents are also called inhalants.
Q: What are solvents normally used for?
A: There are many different types of solvents. A lot of them are found in everyday life: gasoline, felt markers, some cleaning products, nail polish remover, Liquid Paper®, air fresheners, some types of glue, cooking sprays and paint thinner.
Q: What effect do solvents/inhalants have on the body's systems?
A: Because they are inhaled, solvents hit the lungs first. From there, they go into the bloodstream and travel to the brain and other organs. The kidneys break down some solvents, but many leave the body without changing when we breathe out. This means that the breath of people who sniff them can smell like solvents for hours.
Q: What are some of the effects of sniffing solvents?
A: One of the first things people feel is a strong but short-lasting high. At the same time, they feel dizzy and numb. That is followed by weakness, loss of co-ordination, slow reflexes, poor judgment, blurred vision and ringing in the ears. Solvents can also cause headaches, sneezing and coughing, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Solvents slow down breathing and can make users pass out.
Q: What happens when people use solvents over a long period of time?
A: Solvents can cause permanent damage to the liver, kidneys, lungs and heart. There is evidence that solvents can cause brain damage too. The effects are not limited to the body; using solvents can cause mood swings and depression.
Q: Can solvents be fatal?
A: Yes. Overdoses of solvents have caused many deaths. There is also something known as “sudden sniffing death” that can happen while using solvents. Solvents interfere with the way the heart works, and if somebody who is high on solvents is startled or does something physically strenuous like running around, they can have a heart attack.
Because solvents are often inhaled out of a plastic bag, there is a danger that a person will suffocate after passing out with the bag over their nose or mouth.
Solvents can also produce a feeling of being incredibly powerful. This feeling can cause users to do bizarre things like walking into traffic or jumping off balconies.
It is also extremely dangerous to smoke while using solvents because they are highly flammable and the risk of fire is high.
Q: Who uses solvents?
A: Many users are young (between the ages of 8 and 16). Most of these people are experimenting with solvents or using them occasionally, but solvents have a greater effect on children and young adults. Some heavy users are older.
Q: Are solvents addictive?
A: Yes. Heavy users become dependent on solvents, making it very hard to quit using them. Also, just as with alcohol, users can develop a tolerance (they need to inhale more of the solvent to get the same effects they used to get from a smaller amount).
People who only experiment with solvents or use them occasionally generally do not go through withdrawal when they quit. Heavy users can experience withdrawal after quitting because their bodies have changed because of their frequent use of solvents. When they quit inhaling, heavy users can experience depression, aggression, restlessness and a lack of energy.
Q: What is methyl alcohol?
A: Methyl alcohol is a solvent that is also a very dangerous poison. It is sometimes called wood alcohol and is used in paint remover, cleaning solvents, antifreeze and liquid fuels like gasoline, propane and kerosene. Drinking an ounce or less of it can cause blindness, nerve damage, coma and convulsions. It can also lead to death because it can paralyze the body’s breathing system.
