Huffing is synonymous with inhalant abuse and involves inhaling (or huffing) fumes from various household products. The National Institute on Drug Abuse defines inhalants as “volatile substances that produce chemical vapors that can be inhaled to induce a psychoactive, or mind-altering, effect.” Inhalants are divided into four categories, which include: aerosols (e.g., spray paints, hair spray, vegetable oil sprays, spray-on deodorant, etc.), gases (e.g., discharging a whipped cream canister, medical anesthetics, etc.) and volatile solvents (e.g., paint thinners, dry-cleaning fluids, gasoline, glue, felt-tip markers, degreasers, etc.). Because many inhalants are commonly found in household products, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) does not classify them as a Scheduled Controlled Substance. Inhalants are easily accessible and as such, there is a common misconception that they are relatively harmless. However, abuse of inhalants can be dangerous for teens, and could lead to the development of a variety of adverse short and long-term side effects. Unfortunately, inhalant abuse is highly common among teenagers. The 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health published findings that 24 million Americans reported abusing inhalants during their lifetime.
Teens that abuse inhalants breathe them in through the nose or mouth to attain a feeling of euphoria. Abusing inhalants can elicit similar effects to alcohol intoxication. It is important to note that a teen is at increased risk of developing harmful short and long-term effects every time he or she abuses inhalants. There are a variety of signs and symptoms that can be indicative of a young person huffing. Common examples include, but are not limited to the following, provided by Cleveland Clinic:
Every teen is different and will exhibit a unique set of signs and symptoms with varying levels of severity and duration when it comes to huffing. If left untreated, inhalant abuse can lead to severe long-term consequences, including overdose, and some in cases death.
Seeking help is never easy, but you are not alone! If you or someone you know needs mental health treatment, we strongly encourage you to reach out for help as quickly as possible. It is not uncommon for many mental health difficulties to impact a person for the long term. The earlier you seek support, the sooner you and your loved ones can return to happy, healthy, and fulfilling lives.
Our admissions team is available to answer any general questions regarding mental health issues, treatment, and/or specific questions about the program at Pacific Teen Treatment and how we might be able to help your family. We can be reached by phone 24/7 at 800-531-5769. You can also contact us via email at info@pacificrtc.com.
PTT provides treatment for the contemporary issues facing teenagers in today’s world utilizing a family focused and collaborative approach providing individualized care for teens and their families. Licensed by the State of California, Community Care Licensing Division #198209636
At a time when most residential programs are affiliated with large healthcare corporations or backed by private equity, Pacific Teen Treatment is proudly a private, family-owned operation.
