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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Recognition and prevention of inhalant abuse.

Inhalant abuse is a prevalent and often overlooked form of substance abuse in adolescents. Survey results consistently show that nearly 20 percent of children in middle school and high school have experimented with inhaled substances. The method of delivery is inhalation of a solvent from its container, a soaked rag, or a bag. Solvents include almost any household cleaning agent or propellant, paint thinner, glue, and lighter fluid. Inhalant abuse typically can cause a euphoric feeling and can become addictive. Acute effects include sudden sniffing death syndrome, asphyxia, and serious injuries (e.g., falls, burns, frostbite). Chronic inhalant abuse can damage cardiac, renal, hepatic, and neurologic systems. Inhalant abuse during pregnancy can cause fetal abnormalities. Diagnosis of inhalant abuse is difficult and relies almost entirely on a thorough history and a high index of suspicion. No specific laboratory tests confirm solvent inhalation. Treatment is generally supportive, because there are no reversal agents for inhalant intoxication. Education of young persons and their parents is essential to decrease experimentation with inhalants.

Administration, Inhalation↗

PubMed1996

A whiff of death: fatal volatile solvent inhalation abuse.

Inhalation abuse of volatile solvents, previously known generically as "glue sniffing," is typically pursued by adolescents. A wide range of legal, easily obtained products containing volatile substances are available for abuse. We report two illustrative cases of fatal volatile substance abuse: gasoline sniffing in a 20-year-old man and aerosol propellant gas inhalation (aerosol air freshener) in a 16-year-old girl with underlying reactive airway disease. Although the ratio of deaths to nonfatal inhalation escapades is extremely low, volatile solvent abuse carries the risk of sudden death due to cardiac arrest after a dysrhythmia or vasovagal event, central nervous system respiratory depression, hypoxia and hypercapnia due to the techniques of inhalation, and other mechanisms. Investigation of the patient's substance abuse history, examination of the scene of death, and special toxicologic analyses are critical to identifying volatile substance inhalation abuse as the cause of death because anatomic autopsy findings will typically be nonspecific. Above all, physicians must suspect the diagnosis of volatile substance inhalation abuse, especially in any case of sudden death involving an otherwise healthy young person.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Identifying the manifestations of inhalant abuse.

Inhalants are frequently the first mood-altering drugs used by children. They are popular because of peer influences, low cost, availability, and rapid mood-elevation effects. Inhalants cause a fleeting sense of well being, but users frequently are also affected psychologically and physically. Substances such as gasoline and paint thinners are highly toxic and destroy major organs. The abuse of inhalants can cause cardiac arrest, asphyxiation, and accidents. This article focuses on the clinical manifestation of inhalants, altered lab values, the specific agents used, and their effects on the various organs. Health care professionals are in a key position to identify inhalant abusers when clients are seeking treatment for medical problems caused by inhalants. If health care professionals are cognizant of the manifestations of inhalant abuse, they can save a client's life.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Abused inhalants and central reward pathways: electrophysiological and behavioral studies in the rat.

Inhalant abuse remains a significant health problem among the younger segment of society. In fact, the use of inhalants in this population trails only that of nicotine, alcohol, and marijuana. Toluene is a common ingredient in many of the substances sought out for inhalation abuse, apparently for its euphorigenic and hallucinogenic effects. Because drugs of abuse share the common property of altering the activity of mesolimbic dopamine neurons, it is reasonable to suspect that toluene-induced changes in this CNS pathway may underlie its abuse potential. Here we will provide in vivo and in vitro electrophysiological data and behavioral evidence linking toluene exposure in rats to activation of mesolimbic dopamine neurons. Exposure of rats to 11,000 ppm of inhaled toluene produced time-dependent activation of dopamine neurons within the midbrain ventral tegmental area (VTA). In the rat brain slice preparation, perfusion with toluene (23-822 microM) also evoked an increase in activity of both dopamine and nondopamine neurons within the VTA. These excitatory effects could not be found in adjacent non-VTA nuclei, nor were they sensitive to the glutamate antagonists CGS19755 or CNQX. In behavioral studies, systemic administration of toluene produced a dose-dependent locomotor hyperactivity that was attenuated by either pretreatment with the D2 dopamine receptor antagonist remoxipride or by 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of the nucleus accumbens. These findings show that toluene can activate dopamine neurons within the mesolimbic reward pathway, an effect that may underlie the abuse potential of inhaled substances containing toluene.

Administration, Inhalation↗

PubMed2000

Acute exposure to the abused inhalant, isobutyl nitrite, reduced T cell responsiveness and spleen cellularity.

Isobutyl nitrite is an inhalant abused principally by male homosexuals. We have reported that subchronic inhalation exposure (45 min/day for 14 days) to 900 ppm isobutyl nitrite was immunosuppressive. In the present study, the effects of acute exposure to the inhalant were examined. Mice were exposed in an inhalation chamber to 900 ppm isobutyl nitrite for 45 min. One day later, spleen cellularity was reduced by 39% without selectively depleting CD4(+) or CD8(+) cells. The numbers of peripheral blood leukocytes and peritoneal cells were also reduced. Following acute inhalation exposure, T cell proliferative responses stimulated with allogeneic cells or anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies were inhibited, while mitogen-induced responses were not affected. Purified T cells exposed to the inhalant also had compromised responses, suggesting a direct effect on T cells. However, the cumulative effects of multiple exposures were necessary to inhibit T-dependent antibody responses or T cell or macrophage cytotoxicity.

Administration, Inhalation↗

PubMed1996

Leukopenia and altered hematopoietic activity in mice exposed to the abused inhalant, isobutyl nitrite.

Isobutyl nitrite is representative of a group of inhalants abused primarily by male homosexuals; abuse of this drug may be a risk factor for AIDS or Kaposi's sarcoma. Using a 14-day exposure regimen, we previously reported that inhaled isobutyl nitrite was immunotoxic to mice, severely compromising T-dependent antibody responses and cytotoxic T cell and macrophage tumoricidal activity. In addition, exposure to the inhalant dramatically reduced spleen cellularity. A single 45-minute inhalation exposure produced anemia in mice. In the present study, we examined the effects of subchronic exposure to the drug on peripheral blood cellularity and hematopoietic activity. Mice were exposed to 900 ppm isobutyl nitrite in an inhalation chamber for 45 minutes/day for 14 days. One day after the final exposure, the number of peripheral blood leukocytes was reduced by 32%; however, the number of erythrocytes was increased by 7%. This was accompanied by an apparent shift from myelopoiesis to erythropoiesis. The numbers of bone marrow and spleen burst-forming units-erythroid (BFU-E) were increased about two-fold, while the numbers of colony-forming units-granulocyte/macrophage (CFU-GM) were decreased by about half. Bone marrow stromal cells also had reductions in the production of myeloid colony-stimulating activity after subchronic exposure to the inhalant. In addition, the numbers of hematopoietic stem cells, colony-forming units-spleen (CFU-S), were reduced in both bone marrow and spleen. Peripheral blood erythrocyte and leukocyte counts returned to normal levels by 7 days after the final exposure, as did the number of BFU-E. The number of CFU-GM remained depressed, however, even after 7 days of recovery. These data suggest that repeated exposures nonspecifically depleted cells and that erythropoiesis was stimulated, apparently at the expense of myelopoiesis.

Administration, Inhalation↗

PubMed1995

Risk factors for inhalant abuse in juvenile offenders: the case of Mexico.

During the last two decades the abuse of inhalants and other addictive substances has received considerable attention in Mexico. Although substance abuse seems to affect everyone, adolescents seem to be at higher risk, and although researchers have identified the links between substance abuse and delinquency, there is not enough scientific information to explain the reason. A cross-sectional study was designed to examine the relationship between known risk factors and inhalant abuse among a group of Mexican juvenile offenders. Of the 626 subjects studied, 58% reported use of different drugs, and of them 23% abused inhalants. Gender, low socio-economic level and labor status were the principal risk factors associated with inhalant abuse. According to attributable risks calculated, and taking into account the methodological limitations of the study, the authors suggest some preventive actions to decrease inhalant abuse in the population studied.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Inhalant abuse in New Zealand.

AIM: To describe patterns of inhalant abuse in New Zealand and discuss management. METHODS: Calls to the National Poisons Centre (NPC) from January 1 2003 to December 31 2004 were analysed. In addition, deaths following inhalational abuse were identified from the Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited (ESR) database for 2001 and 2002 and available data for 2003. RESULTS: Seventy calls were classified as relating to inhalational abuse incidents. In abusers whose age was known, 83% were between 11 and 20 years, and 61% were male. Over half (44/70) of the calls involved abuse of propane or butane, either alone or in combination with a synthetic pyrethroid. ESR coronial data identified 11 inhalant abuse related deaths, most commonly attributed to cardiac effects. 73% of deaths were in teenagers and all but one fatality involved propane and/or butane. CONCLUSIONS: Inhalant abuse is a persisting problem in New Zealand. NPC and ESR data demonstrate that teenagers are more likely to abuse inhalants than other age groups and butane and propane are the inhalants of choice. Acute management can be difficult, with significant mortality and morbidity. Continued education and other preventive measures are essential to help curb an extremely dangerous practice.

Administration, Inhalation↗

PubMed1977

The characteristics of Cuban Immigrant inhalant abusers.

The characteristics of Cuban immigrant inhalant abusers admitted to the Spanish Family Guidance Clinic during a 1-year period were studied. Not surprisingly, this group was found to be similar to inhalant abusers in the national picture. The inhalers in this study were all males, mostly very young, from very low socioeconomic levels, largely from disrupted family backgrounds and disrupted neighborhoods. They showed poor school and/or employment performance, serious anti-social behavior, and occasional hallucinatory experiences. This group of inhalers was found to be multiple substance abusers and more likely to be characterized by a pattern of polydrug abuse than by their abuse of inhalants per se. This finding confirms a general national trend toward the abuse of multiple rather than single substances. A comparison of inhalers with a carefully chosen control group of clients admitted into the Clinic during the same period of time, matched by nationality, sex, and age, indicates that the two groups are similar in important ways. Both groups present general profiles of acting out adolescents, and tend to come from low socioeconomic, disrupted families and poor neighborhoods.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1986

Inhalant abuse in Singapore.

This paper examines the current situation of inhalant abuse in Singapore. Though inhalant abuse is a new youthful phenomenon, the number of abusers has rapidly increased. And it will soon become a serious problem if it goes unchecked because it is mainly a peer group activity which can involve others, especially the youngsters, very quickly. Furthermore, inhalant substances are cheap and easily available. Other points included in the discussion are the causation of inhalant abuse, the methods and locations of abuse, sources of inhalant substances, and the abusers themselves in terms of their ethnic group, educational level, family, and residential areas.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Inhalant abuse by adolescents.

The deliberate misuse of volatile substances poses a poorly recognized risk for considerable morbidity and mortality in adolescent populations worldwide. The abuse of inhalants continues to be a significant problem among our country's youth. While many household and industrial chemicals can be inhaled, glues, paints, and aerosol propellants are among the most commonly abused. Adolescents are often unaware of the health threats posed by inhalation of solvents. Inhalation can result in serious organ system dysfunction or even sudden death. This review discusses the prevalence of inhalant abuse in the United States, summarizes the various types of substances used, highlights the major physiologic effects of inhalants, and briefly discusses associated risk behaviors, prevention and medical management.

Administration, Inhalation↗

PubMed2005

Synthesis and evaluation of inhaled [11C]butane and intravenously injected [11C]acetone as potential radiotracers for studying inhalant abuse.

The phenomenon of inhalant abuse is a growing problem in the US and many countries around the world. Yet, relatively little is known about the pharmacokinetic properties of inhalants that underlie their abuse potential. While the synthesis of 11C-labeled toluene, acetone and butane has been proposed in the literature, none of these compounds has been developed as radiotracers for PET studies. In the present report we extend our previous studies with [11C]toluene to include [11C]acetone and [11C]butane with the goal of comparing the pharmacokinetic profiles of these three volatile abused substances. Both [11C]toluene and [11C]acetone were administered intravenously and [11C]butane was administered via inhalation to anesthesized baboons. Rapid and efficient uptake of radiolabeled toluene and acetone into the brain was followed by fast clearance in the case of toluene and slower kinetics in the case of acetone. [11C]Butane was detected in the blood and brain following inhalation, but the levels of radioactivity in both tissues dropped to half of the maximal values over the period of less than a minute. To our knowledge, this is the first reported study of the in vivo brain pharmacokinetics of labeled acetone and butane in nonhuman primates. These data provide insight into the pharmacokinetic features possibly associated with the abuse liability of toluene, acetone and butane.

Acetone↗

PubMed1999

Deaths associated with inhalant abuse in Virginia from 1987 to 1996.

Inhalant abuse has existed for a considerable period of time and it is currently one of the most prevalent drug abuse problems in the world. One repercussion from using these compounds is that abuse may result in lethality. In an attempt to better understand the deaths associated with inhalant abuse, the authors surveyed the death records from the Commonwealth of Virginia from 1987 to 1996. Examination of the state records identified 39 deaths related to inhalant abuse during this time period. While no significant increase or decrease in the death rate was observed across the time period investigated, all regions of Virginia were affected, with the rates being highest in the northern and eastern regions of the state. Age of death ranged from 13 to 42 years with the majority of deaths (70%) occurring at 22 years of age or younger. Ninety-five per cent of the individuals were male, with volatile substance abuse deaths accounting for 0.3% of all deaths in males aged 13-22 years. The chief volatile substances used were gas fuels (46%), predominately butane and propane, chlorofluorocarbons (26%), chlorinated hydrocarbons and alkylbenzenes (21%), and other volatile substances including volatile anesthetics. Deaths associated with the abuse of butane and toluene were more likely to be traumatic, but all substances appeared capable of killing directly by their toxic effects, probably through cardiac and/or respiratory mechanisms. The ramifications of these findings for regulation and prevention are addressed.

Administration, Inhalation↗

PubMed1984

Inhalant abuse and juvenile delinquency: a control study in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

This paper examines the relationship between inhalant abuse and delinquency among juveniles in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The arrest records of 100 juvenile delinquents identified as chronic inhalant abusers are compared with two control groups (N = 100 each) of other delinquents from Albuquerque. One control group was stratified on age, sex, and ethnicity, and the other was a simple random sample. The demographic characteristics of inhalant abusers indicated an overrepresentation of young, male Hispanics from large, poor, disrupted families where siblings were involved in both the abuse of inhalants and a variety of other delinquent activities. The inhalant abusers were much more likely to be arrested for virtually every type and category of delinquent activity. Specifically, inhalant abusers are considerably more criminal regarding total offenses committed, status offenses, crimes against property, crimes against persons, and criminal and violent offenses. Therefore, this study has indicated a strong relationship between inhalant abuse and juvenile delinquency.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Inhalant abuse by adolescents: a new challenge for Indian physicians.

Inhalant abuse has been commonly reported especially in the young during the last decades globally. The reason for the relative paucity of literature from India may be attributed to a lack of knowledge about this growing problem among health professionals. A series of five cases of inhalant abuse is described in order to understand this growing public health concern. Most of the cases started inhalant abuse during adolescence. All patients except one abused typewriter erasing fluid and thinner which contains toluene. All the patients reported using inhalants as addictive substance because of their easy accessibility, cheap price, their faster onset of action and the regular 'high' that it provided. Whereas several features of inhalant dependence were fulfilled, no physical withdrawal signs were observed. The diagnosis of inhalant abuse can be difficult and relies almost entirely on clinical judgment. Treatment is generally supportive.

Administration, Inhalation↗

PubMed1998

Inhalant abuse in pregnancy.

Information from a variety of sources suggests the possibility of adverse effects of maternal inhalant abuse, although a well-controlled, prospective study in this area has not been conducted. One source of this concern is the data from occupational exposure to some of the abused solvents, specifically toluene and TCE, with numerous reports suggesting increased spontaneous abortion and fetal malformations. There are also data suggesting decreased fertility and an increased risk for spontaneous abortion in health care workers exposed to nitrous oxide. The relevance of these studies to problems of inhalant abuse is not clear. Although the chemicals involved are the same, there are many differences in the exposure parameters, the populations exposed, and the types of associated risk factors. Nonetheless, there are more than 100 cases reported in the literature of children born to solvent-abusing mothers. Many of these children were small at birth, and some have craniofacial abnormalities not unlike that seen in children with FAS. In the few studies reporting the findings of follow-up in these children, some evidence has been obtained for retardation in growth and development and for residual deficits in cognitive, speech, and motor skills. Clearly, more research is needed to rule out the concomitant risk factors and to identify specific chemicals and patterns of use associated with adverse effects. Animal studies provide more direct evidence that prenatal exposure to toluene or TCE can produce reduced birth weights, occasional skeletal abnormalities, and delayed neurobehavioral development, even under conditions designed to mimic inhalant abuse patterns. Additional research is needed to identify other chemicals with adverse effects, critical periods of exposure, effects of combinations of inhalants, or interactions with drugs of abuse. The research literature seems sufficient to alert clinicians to possible problems in patients who abuse inhalants while pregnant. Diagnosis and good prenatal care for these women are important. The evidence for neonatal withdrawal is limited at this time; however, infants born to women who have recently used inhalants should be observed carefully for an alcohol-like withdrawal syndrome. Although it is not possible to link a specific birth defect or developmental problem in the child of an inhalant abuser to prenatal exposure to a specific chemical, it is clear that inhalant abuse and its associated lifestyle place children at increased risk. A wider appreciation of this is needed among health care professionals and the general public.

Anesthetics, Inhalation↗

PubMed2006

Increases in amphetamine-like discriminative stimulus effects of the abused inhalant toluene in mice.

RATIONALE: Toluene, an abused solvent, shares behavioral and pharmacological effects with abused depressant drugs. These effects include ethanol- and pentobarbital-like discriminative stimulus effects. There is also emerging evidence that this abused inhalant may share stimulus effects with abused central nervous system (CNS) stimulants. OBJECTIVE: To further explore the discriminative stimulus effects of one abused inhalant, this experiment evaluated the amphetamine-like discriminative stimulus effects of toluene. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mice were trained to discriminate between d-amphetamine (1.0 mg/kg) and saline in a two-lever drug discrimination procedure in which responding was under the control of a fixed-ratio 15 schedule. Mice were tested after 10-min inhalation exposures to air or toluene (500-6,000 ppm) and stimulus generalization was examined at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 min post-exposure. RESULTS: Concentration-related increases in amphetamine-lever responding were observed for amphetamine doses >0.56 mg/kg with full substitution occurring immediately after testing for 1.0 and 1.78 mg/kg. Partial amphetamine-lever responding was observed for all concentrations of toluene across the 75-min post-exposure test trials. Response rates that had decreased immediately after all toluene exposures recovered within 15-min post exposure. CONCLUSION: This partial substitution of toluene for amphetamine suggests that studies of the effects of abused solvents on brain dopaminergic systems need to be included in the study of possible CNS mechanisms.

Administration, Inhalation↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Exploratory studies of a rodent model for inhalant abuse.

For simulation of inhalant abuse exposure conditions, male and female rats were exposed to high concentrations (10,000-30,000 ppm) toluene vapor until unconscious (8-12 min periods). Sex differences were observed in the mean times to onset of sleep during exposure; linear regression lines of min to sleep onset as a function of toluene/kg body wt had slopes of -0.7492 for males and -0.4515 for females. Animals were removed from the exposure chamber to clean air and both spontaneous horizontal locomotor activity (2/3 animals) and ppm toluene in exhaled air (1/3 animals) were monitored for the first hr post-exposure. Animals regained consciousness within the first 6-7 min and consistently displayed a characteristic pattern of locomotor activity: activity increased initially to 2-3 times baseline level (1 hr preceding exposure) and remained elevated for approximately 10 min; activity then decreased to baseline range for a time before a period of inactivity and/or sleep by 60 min post-exposure. Immediately after regaining consciousness the concentration of toluene exhaled decreased rapidly for the first 10 min, somewhat less rapidly for the next 10-20 min and levelled off at 100-200 ppm for the following 30-40 min. The occurrence and duration of hyperactivity coincided with the period of rapid elimination of unchanged toluene through the lungs.

Animals↗