The Facts Every Parent Needs to Know About Inhalants

Did you know that your household cabinets and even your garage probably contain products that your teenager can be using as drugs to get high from? These products are called inhalants and are a various group of substances whose toxic chemical vapors can be inhaled to produce mind-altering effects.

You would never think of these common household products as drugs because they were never intended to be used for that purpose. But the fact is, when inhaled or “huffed”, they can produce psychoactive, intoxicating effects. Before you begin cleaning out your cabinets and throwing away all of your cleaning supplies, let me provide you with a couple of lists that will show what types of products you need to be concerned about.


Household and Office Products

• Liquid Paper
• Nail polish removers containing acetone
• Permanent markers
• Aerosol sprays (deodorant, hairspray, and air fresheners)
• Keyboard cleaner spray (referred to as canned air)
• Non-stick cooking spray
• Whipped cream cans
• Glue
• Shoe polish


Industrial and Automotive Products

• Turpentine
• Gasoline
• Paint
• Spray paint
• Paint thinners
• Adhesives and cement (rubber cement and plastic cement)
• Automotive starting fluid
• Butane
• Propane


It is true that the most common abusers of inhalants are most always teenagers because it is easier for them to acquire inhalants right from their home than it is to find alcohol or other drugs. But I do not recommend that you start scouring your house and garage for these items to dispose of them. These are items that you need and getting rid of them is not the way to solve or prevent the issue of abuse.

The first key to approaching the issue of inhalant abuse is prevention. Sit down with your child or teenager and educate them about the risks involved when using inhalants. Communication with your children about drugs and alcohol should always be an open door. Do not pretend that the risks are not there or that your child could not possibly be involved with drugs. Failing to address the subject can lead to problems further on down the road. Then you may have to deal with issues like rehabilitation and counseling which is a very difficult journey and not always successful.

Inhalants can immediately induce heart failure and death can occur with minutes after inhaling or “huffing” these chemicals. Death is particularly linked with the abuse of butane, propane, and aerosols. Also educate them about the effects of long-term inhalant abuse. Inhalants can deplete myelin which helps nerve fibers carry messages that helps your body achieve basic actions. If your myelin becomes damaged you may begin having muscle spasms and tremors. You may also have permanent problems with your body’s most basic actions, including walking and talking. Be sure your teenager knows that using inhalants can produce permanent and irreversible damage. He may think twice about “huffing” if he is armed with this valuable information.

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