inhalants

Question 1

what are inhalants?

Answer 1

“volatile” liquids/gases (readily vaporise)

diverse range compounds with wide-ranging effects

all euphoriants (can result in a “high”)

Question 2

what are volatile solvents?

Answer 2

liquid at room temperature

give off fumes

Question 3

what are aerosols?

Answer 3

contain solvents/propellants

Question 4

what are gases?

Answer 4

can be sniffed/inhaled/sprayed into the mouth

Question 5

what are some commonly abused inhalants?

Answer 5

acetone

n-Butane

chloroform

toluene

propane

Question 6

what are the acute behavioural effects?

Answer 6

euphoria

disinhibition

stimulation then lightheadness

drowsiness (like alcohol)

Question 7

what are the behavioural effects of heavy exposure?

Answer 7

slurred speech

ataxia

lethargy

hallucinations

sometimes delusions

Question 8

what are the behavioural effects from very high doses?

Answer 8

anaesthesia

coma

Question 9

what are the origins of consumptions?

Answer 9

use of inhalants dates back to early human history

ancient inhalant use is known primarily because it related to mystical practices of which there is written record

spiritual leaders inhaled fumes from incense, oils or perfumes to alter consciousness

nitrous oxide was regarded as cheap substitute for alcohol and was popularised by British scientist Sir Humphry Davy - he held nitrous oxide parties and coined the word “laughing gas” in 1799

Question 10

what are the neural mechanisms?

Answer 10

because they have only relatively recently been used for recreational purposes, less is known about the neurochemical activation of these drugs to other recreational drugs

human and animal inhalation studies have shown high toluene concentrations in adipose tissue, bone marrow, adrenals, highly vascular tissues (kidney and liver), brain and blood

does long-term permanent neurological damage

Question 11

how the effects of inhalants mediated in the brain?

Answer 11

rapidly absorbed - fat soluble

distribute widely around the brain - especially striatum, thalamus, deep cerebellar nuclei

Question 12

why are inhalants addictive?

Answer 12

dopamine is substrate of normal reward systems and is common factor across a broad spectrum of addictive drugs

mesolimbic pathway is implicated in natural reward and drug abuse (dopamine pathway responsible for rewards, motivation and emotions)

gave anaesthetised rats toluene and measuring firing in VTA - neurons increased in firing rate and then decreased again within minutes of toluene exposure whilst others were also inhibited

some brain areas are activated in response to toluene as alcohol, opiates and cannabis

would dopamine antagonists stop toluene being rewarding?

Question 13

what was Funada et al’s (1992) study into the addictiveness of inhalants?

Answer 13

study conducted on mice where mice are placed in two connected chambers

toluene distributed in one of two chambers

mice showed preference for toluene chambers than non-toluene chamber where before administration of the substance they showed no preference of either chamber

if given DA antagonist, no longer show preference

Question 14

what are the theories for the effects on CNS excitability?

Answer 14

inhalants enhance function of GABA and glycine inhibitory receptors

inhalants inhibit excitatory NMDA glutamate receptors (like ketamine)

so similar to alcohol - reduce CNS excitability

Question 15

what does short-term use lead to?

Answer 15

slurred speech

running nose or nosebleeds

tiredness (fatigue)

ulcers or irritation around their nose and mouth

Question 16

what does long-term use lead to?

Answer 16

confusion

poor concentration

depression

irritability

hostility

paranoia

Question 17

what are the adverse effects of inhalant use?

Answer 17

Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome (SSDS)

deadly blood disorder (methemoglobinemia)

Question 18

what is Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome?

Answer 18

caused from inhalants

leading to sudden rapid heart rhythms or irregular heart rhythms

Question 19

what is the deadly blood disorder methemoglobinemia?

Answer 19

can result from inhaling nitrates or poppers

where the blood becomes physically changed so can’t deliver oxygen to the body

Question 20

what are the withdrawal effects?

Answer 20

nausea

tremors

irritability

sleep disturbance

Question 21

what are the legal issues?

Answer 21

solvent misuse isn’t illegal - although its illegal in England and Wales for shopkeepers to sell intoxicating substances to those “likely” to be inhaling them

under Scottish law, can be prosecuted for “recklessly” selling substances to any age group if you suspect they’re going to inhale them

since October 1999, law makes it an offence to supply gas lighter refills to anyone under the age of 18 - applies to whole of UK

Question 22

what are the social issues?

Answer 22

in US, about 6% of children have tried by 4th grade and usage peaks between 7th and 9th grades - for 12 year olds, more popular than marijuana (especially in Alaska)

in Australia, long-standing problem with petrol-sniffing indigenous (aboriginal) communities - in some remote areas, they have started using a non-sniffable fuel called Opal to combat this

in South Africa, a glue manufacturer greatly reduced the n-hexane content in their glue products to reduce danger for street children after reports of some being left paralysed