Slang Terms:
Laughing Gas, Poppers, Snappers, Whippets

Short Term Effects:
Psychological Effects
· Loss of inhibition
· Depression
· Memory impairment

Adverse Physical Effects
· Headache
· Nausea or vomiting
· Loss of motor coordination
· Wheezing/unconsciousness
· Slurred speech
· Excessive secretions from the nose
· Watery eyes
· Damage to brain and lung
· Memory impairment

Long Term Effects:
· Weight loss
· Damage to cardiovascular and
nervous systems
· Sudden death
· Multiple psychological and
social problems

Inhalants

Form

Solvents: industrial or household solvents including paint thinners, gasoline, and glues in addition to art office supply solvents, including correction fluids, and felt tip marker fluid.

Gases: household or commercial, including butane lighters and propane tanks, whipping cream aerosols and dispensers. Household aerosol propellants, in items such as spray paints, hair and deodorant sprays. Also includes medical anesthetic gases, such as chloroform, halothane, and nitrous oxide (laughing gas).

Nitrites: aliphatic nitrites, including cyclohexyl nitrite, amyl nitrite, and abutyl nitrite.

When and Why they are Used

Young people most commonly abuse inhalants, in part because inhalants are readily available and inexpensive.

Other Facts

Even a single session of repeated inhalant abuse 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.