Inhalant Use and Addiction

What do “huffing,” “bagging,” and “snorting” have in common? They’re all methods of ingesting inhalants, chemicals that produce a high when inhaled.

Inhalant use isn’t widely publicized or understood, but it’s no less of an issue than drugs that are. It’s especially nefarious because most people experiment with inhalants when they’re young¹, typically in middle school, and 10-50% of those become addicted¹. Many of these teens aren’t aware of the dire consequences of inhalants.

It’s an issue that deserves more attention. In this article, we’ll cover what inhalants are, what they do, and the many available treatment options.

What Are Inhalants?

In short, inhalants are chemicals people inhale to get a high. These include many household products, all of which people can buy cheaply, easily, and legally. Here are a few of the most common inhalants:

Super glue
Felt-tipped markers
Paint thinners
Nail polish
Gasoline
Lighter fluid
Degreasers

People can buy most of the above items at a supermarket. General use of them, like painting your nails with nail polish, won’t result in a high. But purposefully inhaling the fumes can¹.

To do this, people use a few different techniques:

Huffing: Soaking a rag in the substance and putting it over the mouth and nose while breathing in.
Bagging: Spraying the substance into a plastic bag and putting it over the head, then breathing in.
Snorting: Sniffing directly from the container.

Are Inhalants Addictive?

Yes. Though studies on inhalants aren’t as numerous or detailed as the plethora available on other drugs, they do show inhalants have similar addictive effects¹. Concerning addiction and withdrawals, inhalants most closely mimic alcohol and benzodiazepines¹ (anxiety-reducing drugs).

Though inhalants only produce a short-term high, it’s relatively easy (and again, cheap) to re-dose and stay high. This continuous redosing and moving to stronger products can alter the reward pathways and other neurochemical operations in the brain¹. These changes can lead to a physical and emotional dependence.

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Inhalant Use and Addiction Statistics

A study reports², “More than 22 million Americans age 12 and older have used inhalants, and every year, more than 750,000 use inhalants for the first time.” This correlates to 9% of the population ages 12 and older. For every general inhalant user, around 6-8% meet criteria for an inhalant use disorder².

However, inhalant use has been on the decline³, with a more recent report from 2023 saying, “less than 1% of people ages 12 and older reported using inhalants at least once in the past year.”

Inhalant use almost always begins during adolescence² and is discontinued quickly. But some people struggle to stop. The younger people start using inhalants, the more likely an addiction becomes—5 to 6 times more likely².

Effects of Inhalant Use

Ingesting inhalants causes both short-term and long-term effects. In some cases, inhalant use can prove deadly.

Short-term Effects

The initial high from inhalants closely mimics alcohol intoxication². This means effects like:

Slurred speech
Discoordination and stumbling
Euphoria (feeling especially good)
Disinhibition
Unconsciousness
But also sudden sniffing death syndrome⁴, which happens when inhalants stop someone’s heart

Inhalants can also cause chemical burns on the mouth and nose. The pleasurable effects wear off quickly, which can prompt multiple redoses.

Long-term Effects

Inhalants can have particularly grievous long-term effects² on people’s physical and mental health. Some effects can reverse with cessation, but the damage can be life-long and can have deadly complications. These dangers go unreported, meaning most users, especially kids, don’t know what they’re risking.

This list, though long, captures just a handful of the effects of inhalant use.

Cognitive deficits, including memory loss and learning difficulties
Poor judgment
Loss of brain cells and white matter, which can lead to various neurological disorders
Damage to brain cells
Organ failure, typically the liver, heart, and kidneys
Loss of bone marrow and Leukemia
Optic nerve damage
Chronic pain from nerve damage
New or worsening mental health conditions
Suicidal ideation and attempts

Signs of Inhalant Use and Addiction

Someone who uses inhalants will show a few key signs¹ in their physical, psychological, and behavioral presentations.

Behavioral Signs

If someone’s just used an inhalant or suffers from an inhalant use disorder, these are the behaviors you’re likely to notice:

Trouble concentrating
Seeming out of it
Depressed mood
Struggling to form words and talk
Irritability

Physical Signs

The physical signs of inhalant use can be some of the easiest to spot. Keep an eye out for:

Paint or glue on their clothes or skin
Wounds on their mouth and nose—they may look like blisters
A chemical odor on their breath
Paint, glue, or other substances around their mouth or nose
Stains from paint, aerosols, and other substances on their fingers and nails

Psychological Signs

Repeated use of inhalants can lead to depression, suicidality, and anxiety². Someone may seem suddenly or unusually sad, anxious and/or struggling with insomnia. These effects can result from the toxic chemicals themselves or the negative consequences of their addiction.

Withdrawal Symptoms of Inhalant Use

Inhalant withdrawal symptoms closely resemble alcohol and benzodiazepine withdrawals, though experiencing withdrawal symptoms from inhalants isn’t very common¹. It’s more likely to happen in those who’ve taken inhalants for an extended period of time and in high doses. Symptoms of inhalant withdrawal include:

Vomiting
Jitters
Irritability
Hallucinations
Insomnia
Delusions

Treatment Options for Inhalant Addiction

Many treatment centers don’t offer specific programs for inhalant use recovery; rather, they apply the practices and concepts used for general drug addiction recovery. As practitioners become more aware of inhalant use, especially in adolescents, specialized programs will hopefully crop up at treatment centers worldwide.

Treatment options for drug addiction, and thus inhalant use disorder, include the following.

Rehab

Rehabs involve staying at a treatment facility to uncover and treat the behavioral, psychological, and physical effects of inhalant use. You’ll likely work with therapists 1:1 and in group settings; many rehabs offer family therapy too. Days in treatment typically involve a blend of therapy, group activities, downtime, and extracurricular outings (like hiking or going to the beach.)

Rehabs typically offer detox services to treat withdrawal symptoms in a safe medical environment. You’ll also learn relapse prevention strategies and leave with coping tools for challenging emotions. Stays typically last 28-60 days but can extend longer.

Day Treatment and Intensive Outpatient

Day treatment and intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) offer treatment for less intensive needs. For example, in day treatment, you spend 5-8 hours a day in treatment, 5-7 days weekly, but go home afterward. You’ll still engage in 1:1, group, and potentially family therapies, but without intensive monitoring and structured activities beyond your therapeutic care.

Intensive outpatient programs follow the same setup but with less time spent in treatment. Often 3-4 days weekly for a couple hours a day. Day treatment and IOPs can serve as step-down levels of care for those coming from rehab or as primary treatment for those with less intensive needs.

Therapy and Peer Support

Attending therapy regularly can address the underlying issues leading to inhalant use. Your therapist can help you identify unhelpful beliefs and thought patterns that lead to inhalant use and practical strategies to alter how you respond to difficult emotions. Building a collection of coping tools and behavioral strategies can strengthen your recovery long-term.

Peer support includes peer recovery meetings, where people in recovery meet to connect and hold each other accountable. Peers provide support and often form strong friendships that can be vital in recovery. You can search for 12-Step or SMART Recovery groups near you to find a meeting.

Find Help for Inhalant Use and Addiction

Inhalant use is highly treatable. Many of the negative physical and mental effects wear off with cessation, meaning treatment can help you feel better fast. Therapy can help address underlying triggers and causes for inhalant use, while relapse prevention strategies prepare you to live confidently in recovery.
Use Recovery.com to find a treatment center that fits your needs. You’ll find photos, reviews, insurance information and more, all in one place.

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