Many people think of substance abuse as being an expensive undertaking, accessible only to those who have some way, however unethical, of getting their hands on large amounts of cash. But there is a category of substance abuse that involves ordinary household products that are available for a few dollars at any grocery or hardware store: inhalants.
What makes inhalant so pervasive is that it is accessible to almost everybody. The products can be purchased without restriction by people of all ages. There is no minimum age as there is with alcohol and tobacco. No prescription is needed as is the case with opioids. These factors make inhalants a common substance of abuse among people who don’t have access to money, such as homeless people and children.
According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), most people in Canada who use inhalants are between 10 and 16 years of age. In 2011, 5.6% of Ontario students in Grades 7-12 reported having used solvents or glue at least once during the previous year.
What Are Inhalants?
Inhalants are volatile substances that are commonly found in common household or DIY products. As the name suggests, they are usually ingested through inhalation. They can produce a psychoactive effect similar to what one experiences through alcohol consumption. Since inhalants include products with a vast array of ingredients, they can affect people in many different ways.
The sheer volume of inhalant products makes it difficult to categorize them. One of the more common methods of classification centres around the form of the product. The four general categories are solvents, gases, aerosols, and nitrites.
Volatile Solvents
Volatile solvents are liquids that vaporize at room temperature. They are found in products like paint, paint thinner, gasoline, glue, and many household cleaning liquids.
Gases
Several household products come in gaseous form that can be abused. These include refrigerants, propane barbecue tanks, butane lighters, and whipped cream dispensers.
Aerosols
As the name suggests, aerosol products are those that are typically used by being sprayed from a can. They include hairspray, deodorant, cooking spray and spray paint.
Nitrites
Nitrites are used mostly in the medical and dental fields, but they can still be found in a few household items such as video head cleaner and leather cleaner. Unlike other inhalants that directly affect the central nervous system, nitrites dilate the blood vessels.
How Are Inhalants Ingested?
The method of ingestion depends on the substance. As with many substances that are abused, the danger lies not only in the substance itself, but in how it is taken.
Sniffing
Some products can be ingested with very little effort. The user simply opens the jar or bottle and holds it up to their nose while inhaling deeply. The chemicals can damage the nasal cavities through burning and inflammation.
Bagging
This extremely hazardous practice involves spraying an aerosol substance into a plastic bag, which is then placed over the head. Bagging creates a significant risk of suffocation: as the user starts to experience the effects of the substance, they may suffer a loss of motor skills that renders them incapable of removing the bag.
Huffing
A liquid substance is poured over a cloth or rag, soaking it completely. The cloth is then put into the mouth, putting the user at risk of asphyxiation.
What Are The Dangers Of Inhalants?
The effects of inhalants can be felt within moments of ingestion. Since they are inhaled, they enter the bloodstream through the lungs, and they quickly travel to the brain and other organs. The immediate effects of inhalants that can happen with each use include the following:
Poor motor functioning, slowed reflexes, and loss of coordination
Mood swings, ranging from irritability to euphoria
Hallucinations
Excitability and impulsive behaviour
Nausea and vomiting
Dizziness, light-headedness, and headaches
Slurred speech
Drowsiness and loss of consciousness
These effects are short-lived, usually lasting for a few minutes. People who use inhalants will frequently do so several times over the course of a few hours in hopes of prolonging the high. Each successive use of the substance exacerbates the effects, putting the user at increasingly higher risk.
Can The Use Of Inhalants Cause Death?
The dangers of inhalant abuse are sometimes overlooked, possibly because many people don’t automatically associate household products with substance abuse. Most instances of accidental ingestion are dealt with swiftly, and they involve relatively small amounts of the product.
However, even a single case of intentional inhalant use can lead to death in any one of the following ways:
Sudden sniffing death. The chemicals in the products can lead to a rapid and/or irregular heartbeat, which in turn can result in cardiac arrest.
Choking. One of the common effects of inhalant use is nausea and vomiting, paired with a loss of consciousness. This can result in the user choking to death as a result of not being able to move to a safer position.
Asphyxiation. Putting solvent-soaked rags into the mouth can result in asphyxiation. In addition, high concentrations of inhaled fumes displace oxygen in the lungs, resulting in asphyxiation, regardless of the method of ingestion.
Suffocation. When fumes are inhaled from a plastic bag placed over the head, the user can suffocate. A loss of motor skills and coordination can prevent the user from being able to remove the plastic bag in time.
Carbon monoxide poisoning. Some solvents are converted to carbon monoxide, which is toxic to humans.
Accidental injury. Because inhalant use can lead to dizziness, impaired coordination, and slowed reflexes, the user is more prone to accidental death from motor vehicle accidents and other incidents.
Long-Term Effects Of Inhalants
Prolonged frequent use of inhalants can lead to significant long-term consequences, including the following:
Some volatile solvents can damage the myelin sheath – the protective coating surrounding nerve fibres. This can lead to nervous system damage that looks clinically similar to that seen in conditions like multiple sclerosis.
The user may experience cognitive decline ranging from mild impairment to severe dementia.
Due to the efficient means of ingestion, prolonged use of inhalants can have long-term effects on the organs, including the heart, lungs and liver.
Bone marrow can become damaged, and this can interfere with the body’s ability to produce red blood cells, putting the user at higher risk of developing conditions like anemia and leukemia.
Use Of Inhalants During Pregnancy
Although the use of inhalants during pregnancy has not been sufficiently studied in humans, animal studies suggest that some inhalant substances can result in low birth weight and delayed neurological development in babies.
How Can I Stop Using Inhalants?
Many people become psychologically dependent on inhalants, meaning they experience strong cravings after a period of abstinence. However, the physical dependence is low, which means withdrawal symptoms, while uncomfortable, are not life-threatening.
The symptoms of inhalant withdrawal include anxiety, headaches, nausea and vomiting, insomnia, hand tremors, and mood swings.
Although these symptoms may be mild, quitting inhalant use can still be a challenge. If you are caught in a cycle of inhalant abuse, it is important that you seek help. Most addictions have their roots in other causes, and by joining an intensive rehab program, those underlying issues can be explored and understood. At 1000 Islands Rehab Centre, we will create an addiction rehab program that is tailored to your specific needs and circumstances. Contact us today to start your journey to a better life.
Unfortunately, inhalant addiction seems to go under the radar. People don’t speak about inhalant abuse and the cost of addiction treatment like they do other common forms of drug abuse. Hence, it seems like inhalants don’t pose any dangers. However, this is hardly the case. Many teens and adults in Canada struggle with inhalant addiction and abuse.
Continuously using inhalants leads to many symptoms that will require treatment. Since people hardly mention inhalant abuse, there is not a lot of information about its treatment. That’s why we’re writing this all-in-one price guide for inhalant addiction treatment.
In this article, you will get information about the different types of inhalant addiction treatment. We’ll also explore the cost and the factors that work together to determine this cost.
Are You Struggling With Inhalant Addiction?
When you use inhalants often or abuse them, you put yourself at risk of health problems. These problems include cardiovascular, neurological, and gastrointestinal issues. Death can also result from severe inhalant abuse.
Inhalants are potentially addictive. With continuous use, you may become tolerant of its effects. Hence, you’ll start taking more inhalants to reach the level of intoxication you crave.
If you stop taking inhalants, you may experience withdrawal symptoms. These withdrawal symptoms are rare and unique for every individual.
Common withdrawal symptoms to expect include:
Sweating
Jitteriness
Mood swing
Irritability
Sleep disturbances
Impaired memory
Nausea
Vomiting
Hallucinations and delusions
Tachycardia
It’s the severity of these withdrawal symptoms that prompt discussions about the cost of inhalant drug addiction treatment. You’ll need top-notch medical care, monitoring and therapy. All of this is only available at a professional rehab centre.
Signs Someone is Struggling With Inhalant Addiction
You should look out for certain signs if you suspect a loved one is struggling with inhalant addiction. If you notice such signs, you may need to find out about the cost of inhalant addiction treatment because such a person needs immediate help. The signs include:
They spend much time trying to get or use inhalants and recover from their symptoms
They usually crave inhalants
They don’t fulfill their obligations at home, work, or school
They continue to use inhalants despite the obvious problems they cause
They don’t take part in recreation activities or perform their hobbies because they want to use inhalants.
They get into trouble or dangerous situations.
They continue using inhalants despite psychological and physical side effects
The average cost of inhalant addiction rehab is $6,000 – $14,000. However, if you want your rehab program to include elements of luxury, you can expect the average to double, or even triple.
The cost of inhalant addiction services depends on these factors :
Type of inhalant addiction treatment program
Treatment the center offers
Amenities the center offers
Program duration
Treatment center staff
Medication
Treatment center location
Type of treatment program
If you are struggling with inhalant addiction, you will have to enroll in a rehab center. There are two major rehab center types available for inhalant addiction patients. These are inpatient and outpatient rehabs. These rehabs differ widely in structure.
Inpatient rehabs provide 24-hour care for patients. Throughout your stay in the facility, you will always have medical personnel attending to you and noting your reaction to treatment. There are also multiple activities you can partake in. These activities will help you become independent of inhalants and keep you focused on recovery.
Inpatient rehabs also have many luxuries and amenities within their facilities. They require you to stay in the facility throughout your treatment. Hence, most of these facilities are state-of-the-art, with the best personnel attending to you.
Outpatient rehabs differ from inpatient rehabs in that you don’t have to live in a facility for the duration of your treatment. Instead, you can receive treatment daily until you recover from your addiction to inhalants. With such programs, you’ll visit your doctor or therapist on appointed days. You will also take part in group and individual therapies or other activities geared towards aiding your recovery.
When it comes to pricing for inhalant addiction rehab, inpatient rehabs cost more than outpatient rehabs. The cost of rehab in inpatient centers is often about twice that of outpatient rehabs. People with a severe addiction to inhalants should opt for inpatient rehabs, while outpatient rehabs are suitable for those with mild addiction problems.
Your addiction specialists will recommend an appropriate inhalant program, whether inpatient or outpatient. Typically, the decision is a function of your assessment results, level of addiction and withdrawal symptoms.
Treatment offered
The kind of treatment you receive at a rehab center influences the cost of inhalant addiction treatment. For instance, if you need medically-assisted detox during treatment, it will increase the price.
If you have co-occurring disorders with your addiction, it will also increase the cost of treatment. You’ll need certified medical professionals to look after you, thereby increasing the cost. Some rehabs offer certain therapies and professional counselling, which also affect the cost of treatment.
Inhalant addiction treatment programs may involve using counselling and behavioural therapy to achieve successful recovery. A great example is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
It helps addicts recognize how their feelings, thoughts, and behaviours cause them to abuse inhalants. You’ll also learn strategies to identify, avoid, and manage situations that can trigger inhalant use. Motivational incentives or contingency management rewards addicts for achieving targets related to their treatment and recovery.
Amenities
Some rehabs, particularly inpatient rehabs, offer certain amenities in their facilities. These amenities can include swimming pools, spas, massages, tennis courts and game rooms.
These amenities will add to the cost you’ll incur for treatment. Luxury rehab centers are very expensive because they have many of these amenities within their facilities.
Program duration
The cost of inhalant addiction treatment increases the longer you stay in rehab. The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that most individuals need 90 days to significantly stop or decrease their dependence on drugs.
Some people spend less than 90 days in rehab, while others spend more than that in severe cases of addiction. However, the longer you stay in a rehab center, the higher your expenses.
Staff
Pricing for inhalant addiction rehab may increase if you need the attention of numerous medical personnel. In contrast with outpatient rehabs, inpatient rehabs usually have more medical personnel (with different specializations) attending to you.
This is one of the reasons recovery programs at an inpatient inhalant rehab will cost more than outpatient rehab. Rehabs treating co-occurring health disorders with addiction may require specialists. If this is the case, they will charge more for their services.
Medications
If you need certain medication during your inhalant addiction treatment, your cost of rehab may increase. Mostly, medication is necessary to manage withdrawal symptoms during detox.
They will also help you manage any adverse effects you may experience during treatment. With these medications, your detox stage will be safer and more comfortable.
Location
The cost of inhalant addiction treatment varies based on a rehab center’s location. If the center is in a major city with a high standard of living, it may cost more. If you sign up for outpatient rehab and have to travel a long distance for your appointments, it increases your treatment expenses.
Average Price of Inhalant Addiction Treatment Programs
A typical inhalant addiction treatment program will encompass detox, inpatient or outpatient rehab, medication, therapies, and after-recovery services. Here are the average prices of these treatments.
Detox
If you enroll for outpatient detox, your total expenses will range from $1000-$1500. In most inpatient rehabs, the detox cost is a part of the full program expenses. The exact amount you’ll pay for detox depends on how long it takes and the severity of withdrawal symptoms.
Inpatient rehab
Inpatient rehab can cost up to $6,000 per month for treatment. If the inhalant rehab program includes all-around comprehensive treatment, you may need to pay up to $20,000 per month. If you require 60-90 days for treatment, you may need to spend $12,000-$60,000. Luxury inpatient rehabs can cost up to $30,000 to $100,000 per month.
Outpatient rehab
Some outpatient rehabs can cost about $5,000 per 90 days. Renowned outdoor rehabs can cost as high as $10,000 per 90 days. The cost depends on the frequency and duration of your sessions with a specialist. It’ll also cover the cost of medication.
Medications
When calculating the cost of inhalant addiction treatment, you need to factor in medication.
Some people may not need drugs for inhalant addiction treatment.
However, others may require a prescription during the detox stage of addiction treatment. Mostly, treatment courses include sedatives for sleep and anxiety. You may also need mood stabilizers to help with impulsivity, emotional distress, mood swings, and impulsivity.
Sometimes, it may be necessary to take antipsychotics to alleviate hallucinations, agitation, and delusions. Baclofen, a muscle relaxer, proves to be a successful medication in decreasing withdrawal symptoms of inhalant addiction.
How to Afford the Cost of Inhalant Addiction Treatment
Not everyone can pay for rehab. Hence, you need to ask about the cost of inhalant detox and rehab services beforehand. This way, you can start to plan financially. Therefore, you have to ask the particular rehab center about the cost of their addiction treatment. You also need to know what their payment arrangements are.
If the cost of addiction treatment is high, it doesn’t mean the end of the world. There are many ways you can offset the cost of inhalant addiction treatment. These include:
Public Insurance
Government can partially or fully subsidize public insurance. Common types of public insurance include Medicare and Medicaid. With this coverage, you may be able to pay for your inhalant addiction treatment.
However, you must meet certain conditions. Furthermore, you need to ask your insurance provider if they cover inhalant addiction treatment.
Private Insurance
The government does not subsidize this kind of insurance policy. Instead, you can purchase it through your employer.
With this policy, you may pay higher for insurance expenses than what holds in public insurance. The good thing about private insurance is that it covers more treatment options compared to public insurance.
Low-cost/Income-based rehabs
Besides insurance policies, you can afford addiction treatment by visiting rehab centers for low-income earners. The government sets up this scheme for low-income earners who can’t easily afford standard rehab. In these low-income rehabs, these payment assistance plans exist:
Scholarships
Income-based fees
Sliding-scale fees
No-interest payment plans
Flexible payment plans
Another way of affording the cost of inhalant rehab programs in Toronto is via flexible payment plans. With such plans, you can arrange with your rehab center to split your payments in instalments. However, this may depend on the duration of your treatment and other conditions.
How to Choose a Good Inhalant Rehab
The cost of inhalant addiction treatment can be expensive. Hence, you should choose the right one to ensure you get the value of your money. When choosing an inhalant rehab center, there are certain factors you should consider. If the rehab center you have in mind meets these considerations, you know it’s right for you.
The rehab center’s location
When choosing a rehab center, you must choose one close to you. This is especially important if you are choosing an outpatient rehab.
You don’t want to spend too much money travelling long distances to get to your rehab center when you can save costs by enrolling for one close by. The inpatient rehab you choose should also be close to your family so they can visit you at intervals.
Staff
A good rehab center must have accredited and licensed medical staff. The medical team at rehab centers should be friendly and able to cater to patient needs by offering the appropriate treatments necessary for complete recovery. Besides these, the medical staff should have experience dealing with cases of inhalant addiction.
Effective treatments
A good addiction center must have effective treatment programs available for inhalant addiction. The treatments available in the best inhalant rehab centers should cater to all your needs and lead to recovery.
Treatment methods
A good rehab center should employ standard treatment methods suitable for every individual. To achieve this, the rehab center should be able to adopt multiple addiction treatment models. With this, it is easier to attend to every patient despite their varied needs.
Reviews
A good inhalant addiction rehab center should have excellent reviews from former patients. It should also have a good reputation and be known for successfully treating people of their addiction.
If a rehab center is good, it will show in its ratings. Hence, always check for reviews before deciding on a particular rehab centre.
Cost
Before choosing a particular rehab, you should ask, “how much do inhalant rehab programs cost?”
You need to research the cost of various inhalant addiction programs available in the rehab and know if you can afford it. Also, compare this cost with others and note if the rehab is standard or not.
What Happens After Rehab?
During rehab, you learn how to avoid circumstances that may trigger inhalant use and abuse. You also learn to deal with life’s problems without turning to inhalants. A good rehab center will recommend its patients join support groups or meetings.
These support groups will help you continue on your recovery path and maintain your commitment to living a life without inhalant abuse. You should also sign up for individual therapy after your rehab.
Besides these therapies and support groups, you should imbibe new hobbies and healthy habits. A key step is to become friends with people who will not lead you back into inhalant abuse and addiction.
You should also live a healthier life and engage in positive activities or worthwhile causes. Doing these will create a new lifestyle that prevents idleness and negative thoughts.
Is The Cost of Inhalant Rehab Worth It?
Due to the high cost of inhalant addiction treatment, some people wonder if it is a worthy investment. The answer is yes, it is. Rehab is beneficial in more ways than one. In a rehab center, you will get treatment in a structured environment specially designed for sobriety.
In rehab, you will take part in various activities and therapies. These activities and therapies will teach you how to deal with life’s challenges and remain sober. You will also learn how to do away with elements that can trigger a relapse and cope with stress.
Other advantages of rehab include:
In rehab, you are not alone. You will meet people with similar issues and share stories and experiences with them. This can be comforting and a source of support.
You are cut off from inhalants or situations that lead you to use them.
You have well-trained and qualified staff attending to you.
In rehab, no one judges you. Everyone wants to help you.
Rehab helps you rebuild your relationship with friends and family.
Post-recovery therapies and group supports are beneficial and help you stay sober.
Rehab helps you discover more about yourself and your passion.
Is Inhalant Rehab a Good Idea: The Cost of Addiction
No matter the cost of inhalant addiction treatment, the cost of addiction is higher in more ways than one. Due to your addiction to inhalants, you’ll suffer losses in other aspects of your life. Here’s what we mean.
Financial cost
You spend money buying these inhalants. In time, you can get so dependent that you don’t mind how much you pay to get it. If you add up the amount of money you spend on inhalants, you will see you are losing a lot.
Besides the cost of buying inhalants, you will also spend money on legal-related issues. When you abuse inhalants, you may break laws and get into legal trouble. If this happens, you will spend money on legal matters like:
Fines for illicit drug use.
Lawyer and court fees for inhalant abuse-related cases.
Driving under the influence cases.
Divorce-related cases.
Health cost
If you continue to abuse inhalants, you will end up damaging your lungs or other organs in your body. This leads to hospital expenses and additional health costs.
Opportunity cost
The amount of money you spend buying inhalants is way higher than the cost of rehab. Consider how much money you will save if you quit inhalant addiction.
Addiction can cause you to miss work and become less productive, leading to the loss of your income. You may also lose your job.
Relationship cost
Inhalant abuse and addiction lead to strained relationships between you and your family, loved ones, and even your spouse. Your spouse may get tired of your constant inhalant abuse and file for divorce. Your friends may also stay away from you because of your addiction.
You must take steps to redeem yourself and start your journey to recovery from addiction. Find out how much to treat inhalant abuse in Toronto. Be determined to quit your addiction and enroll in an addiction treatment rehab that suits you. With dedication and commitment, you will be on your way to sobriety quickly.
The Cost of Inhalant Rehab is an Investment into Your Future
Continuously using inhalants leads to many adverse symptoms. To curtail these negative effects, you should enroll for treatment at a rehab centre. However, treatment at inhalant addiction rehabs comes at a cost. Mostly, that’s between $6,000-$4000.
The cost of inhalant addiction treatment is dependent on several factors. All these factors combine to determine how much you will pay for a particular addiction treatment program. After rehab, you must continue with the things you learned during treatment. You should also stay on the recovery path.
You should choose a rehab center to ensure it meets the criteria standard rehabs should have. Choosing the right rehab is key to a successful rehab.
If you want an inhalant rehab center that goes above and beyond for its patients, speak with us at 1000 Islands Rehab Centre. Here, we have many years of experience dealing with inhalant abuse patients.
We also have access to the staff, expertise and equipment to ensure safe, effective recovery. Book an appointment to discuss your addiction recovery needs with us for FREE.
In the current age, drug abuse is rampant among teenagers. Typically, we try to curb the abuse of harmful substances like cocaine. However, the more common danger lies in inhalant addiction.
These involve the use of everyday household items like nail polish and paint. Due to their ease of access, they can be easily abused. Most of the time, you may be focused on hard drugs. This can lead to you missing the signs of inhalant abuse.
Additionally, there aren’t any direct laws that label them as illegal. Hard drugs like heroin and MDMA have laws that render them illegal. However, in the case of inhalant addiction, such laws don’t apply.
Furthermore, the early symptoms of inhalant addiction are brief. This can lead you to shrug off the possible potential danger. In this article, we will discuss the signs and symptoms of inhalant addiction.
You will learn how to identify the addiction early in both yourself and your friends and family. Make sure to seek professional help if you know anyone showing early signs.
What is Inhalant Addiction?
Let’s start with the basics. What is inhalant addiction? This is the misuse of household aerosols and gas propellants etc. to induce intoxication.
The fumes from these inhalants numb the brain and motor functions. This gives a false sense of calm to the user. The effects may seem relaxing, but they aren’t as safe as you think.
Inhalant addiction is constantly growing, particularly in teenagers. They try out these inhalants because they are a cheaper option of getting high.
Some teenagers can be corrected by early inhalant addiction treatment. However, you have to be observant of the misuse of these inhalants on time. Pay attention to the domestic products you buy and use.
Most often, these inhalants have a sweet-smelling odour that can attract you. Paint thinners and acetone give off a very strong and inviting scent. This can be hugely misleading, as the fumes are hazardous for you. You need to make sure that domestic home products are correctly stored at all times. Never leave them out in the open. Try and recognize inhalant abuse once you start getting attracted to these products.
Here is a broad example of different types of potential inhalants.
Glue
White Out Fluid
Propane Tanks
Paint Removers
Spray Paint
Deodorants
Chloroform
Whipped Cream Dispensers
Nail Polish
Acetone
Room Deodorizers
All the above examples and more are possible triggers for inhalant addiction. Get familiar with them now so you can be cautious in the usage of these items.
Causes of Inhalant Addiction
We have discussed the definition of inhalant addiction. Next, we are going to talk about the causes of this addiction.
Availability
One of the prime causes of inhalation is the availability of materials. A lot of common household items like glue and paint are a must-have. These items are necessary for the home. However, their presence can be risky for you and your family.
Affordability
Not only are these items available, but they are also cheap to get. Due to their necessity, you can easily buy a bottle of bleach or whipped cream without questioning. Compared to the expensive nature of hard drugs, these items can be purchased with ease.
Peer Pressure
Teenagers often strive to look cool to their mates. Therefore, a lot of them succumb to the latest trends among their peers. Once a couple of “cool” kids partake in inhalant addiction, others may join as well. Seek inhalant addiction treatment urgently for any teenager you suspect.
Escape from reality
Similar to the reason people take hard drugs. Inhalants can offer you with a false sense of release and reward. The fumes can dull your senses and give you a form of relief. However, such relief comes with heavy consequences.
Signs of Inhalant addiction
Unlike hard drugs or alcohol, inhalants can disappear shortly after use while their effects happen internally. Your teenager may hide their spray cans or paint cans. Regardless these are a few signs to help you note signs of inhalant abuse.
Some of the early signs of inhalant addiction are:
Anxiety
Runny nose
Paint odour on body
Mouth sores
Redness of eyes
Loss of appetite
Unusual breath smell
Paint stains on fingers
Daze and confused appearance
Slurring of speech
Hoarding of aerosol cans
Staggering while walking
Unexplained mood swings
Some of these symptoms may originally seem more associated with alcoholism. But you need to keep a keen eye for the symptoms of inhalant addiction as well. Some of these are hallucinations, apathy, impaired judgment, depression etc.
You also need to know how these inhalants are used. This will help you identify the addiction faster once you begin to suspect.
It can be sprayed directly from the container onto the face
It can be soaked in a rag and placed on the face
It can be rubbed on fingernails and sniffed
As noted above, the method of usage is straightforward. You will need to pay attention to the clothes and accessories of your teenager. Once you smell any of these substances regularly, seek professional help for inhalant addiction.
Dangers of Inhalant Addiction
We have talked about the signs of inhalant abuse. Now we will discuss the dangers and consequences of inhalant addiction. Currently, inhalants are almost as harmful as many hard substances and more harmful in many situations. Inhalants may cause heart attacks and respiratory arrest. This may even lead to a lethal overdose even on your first try.
Heavy, long-term abuse generally can lead to serious physiological side effects. Excessive misuse of substances like toluene can cause neurological effects. Other chemicals can cause multiple sclerosis, a brain and spinal cord disorder or even paralysis.
Lung and liver damage are also signs that you need inhalant addiction treatment. The toxic fumes from these substances can alter your body chemistry severely. This can lead to permanent damage like stroke or epilepsy.
Here are some of the damaging effects of inhalant addiction. The case worsens, especially with continued and prolonged usage.
Brain damage
Kidney damage
Memory loss
Learning disabilities
Impaired vision
Poor motor functions
Hearing loss
Poor balance
Muscle weakness
What You and Your Teenager Should Know
Inhalation addiction is best avoided than resolved. It is better to prevent addiction in the first place than curing it. There is useful information you that you can enlighten yourself and family with. This can go a long way in preventing it.
Whenever you buy any aerosols or volatile compounds, alert your family about it. Let them understand its exclusive purpose and educate them on its potential poisonous nature.
Enlighten them on how their bodies work and react in the presence of these substances. For example, teach them to immediately leave a room after spraying insecticides. You can also teach them to use aerosols and nail polish sparingly.
Teach them to recognize inhalant abuse within themselves. Label the potential substances as poisons, so they are careful in using them. Make sure you do not linger around in a room where such materials are used.
Expose them to the harsh realities of using these products to get “high.” Follow them to buy any of the potential inhalants that they may need domestically.
Treatment for Inhalant Addiction
What do you do if you or your teen have fallen victim to inhalant addiction? Physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms can come with this addiction. These symptoms may last for up to five days.
Discomfort and restlessness are primary examples of psychological withdrawal. Conversely, physical withdrawal symptoms normally consist of headaches and exhaustion.
You may consult professional help with inhalant abuse. They will provide you with the necessary help to kill the habit. Here are examples of other ways to combat the addiction and withdrawal symptoms.
Limit the use of inhalants
Eat and exercise often
Get a friend to motivate you
Dispose of cans
Lock up essential aerosols and use sparingly for some time
Join support groups
The road to recovery will not be easy. Inhalants are very rampant and tempting. Follow the above steps, and you will be able to kick the habit away.
Conclusion
Inhalant addiction in Canada is on the rise. People indulge in it now more than ever to relieve stress. However, they slowly fall into the pit of inhalant addiction. Learn about the addiction to these inhalants and their causes. Be wary of early onset of signs and symptoms of inhalant abuse. Read on the dangers of getting addicted to inhalants.
Thankfully, we at 1000 Islands Addiction Rehab & Treatment Centre, offer assistance to kill the nasty habit. Our inhalation addiction treatment program is run by health professionals who have studied its effects.
We offer behavioural therapy to wean you off the addiction. We also have strong support groups where you can share with other addicts. This can go a long way to hasten the healing process.
Our rehabilitation programs are tailored to ease you onto the road to recovery. It consists of twelve-step programs and consultation services. We will guide you through your trying time to the point of zero inhalant addiction. Get the help you need today!
Inhalant withdrawal and detox is a complicated process. But it’s a crucial step in the path to recovery from inhalant addiction. If those at risk are not shown how to quit inhalant addiction, they are at a significant risk of becoming addicted to other, potentially more harmful substances at some point during their adulthood.
Substance abuse does not always start with an illegal street drug like cocaine or heroin, or with a prescription medication like an antidepressant or an opioid painkiller. Some substances of abuse are lurking in almost every home, masquerading as harmless everyday products.
Because these products are inexpensive, widely available, and can be purchased without restriction, they tend to be the number one choice for children and teens who are looking for an artificially induced escape from the stresses of their lives.
What Is An Inhalant?
Inhalants are substances often found in household products that vaporize at room temperature. When ingested, they generate effects similar to those produced by alcohol.
These effects are evident within a concise time of ingestion, and while they tend to be short-lived, they are intense enough for many users to seek more of the product immediately. Users can experience a variety of unpleasant and dangerous inhalant withdrawal symptoms, which makes it a difficult addiction to overcome.
What Substances Are Considered To Be Inhalants?
Almost all household cleaning products can be used as inhalants. The categories of inhalants are listed below, along with some examples.
Solvents: glue, nail polish and nail polish remover, felt-tip markers, lighter fluid, paint thinners, correction fluid
Nitrites: room deodorizer, leather cleaner, liquid aroma, video head cleaner
What Are The Effects Of Inhalant Abuse?
For some people, the symptoms that come with inhalant withdrawal and detox can be a stumbling block to the process.
However, without inhalant addiction treatment, you are open to a host of side effects and unwanted health problems. These include:
Ingestion Dangers
Some of the dangerous effects of inhalants are related to the method of ingestion. These substances can be taken in a variety of ways.
Sniffing involves holding the substance near the nose and inhaling it. This can result in nasal damage resulting from chemical burns and inflammation.
Bagging is done by spraying an aerosol substance into a plastic bag and placing the bag over the mouth or the head. People who do this are at risk of oxygen deprivation and suffocation.
Huffing is when a rag is soaked in the substance and then placed over the nose or in the mouth. This method carries a high risk of suffocation and asphyxiation.
Substance Dangers
Like inhalant withdrawal symptoms, the effects of inhalants vary depending on what the substance is, as well as individual factors like age, existence of physical or mental health conditions, whether medications are being used, and how much of the substance is ingested and with what frequency.
Every use of inhalants can produce the following effects:
Impaired motor functioning, poor reflexes, and loss of coordination
Impaired judgment and a loss of self-control
Short-lived euphoria
A state of excitability
Slurred speech
Dizziness and lightheadedness
Hallucinations
Nausea and vomiting
Loss of consciousness
Heart failure that may lead to death
Regular long-term use of inhalants can result in damage to the liver and kidneys, sustained loss of coordination, neurological damage, behavioural problems, and brain damage.
Inhalant withdrawal symptoms are generally mild compared to withdrawal from other substances, but in some cases – mostly when the inhalants are used in conjunction with other substances like alcohol or marijuana – the person can be at risk of serious complications.
Inhalants produce effects of euphoria and confidence that, while being intense, are fairly short-lived. When these effects wear off, the user may feel the urge to use the substance again. The more they use it, the more they have to take to achieve the same effects. If at some point they decide to stop using inhalants, or if they are denied access to the substances, their body goes through withdrawal.
Some of the more common symptoms of inhalant withdrawal include the following:
Nausea and vomiting
Headaches and dizziness
Anxiety and depression
Symptoms of psychosis, such as delusions, paranoia and hallucinations
Insomnia
Rapid or irregular heartbeat
Irritability, agitation, outburst of anger, and rapid mood swings
Impaired memory and concentration
Hand tremors
Sweating significantly more than usual
In severe cases, seizures may occur
Inhalant Withdrawal Timeline: How Long is It?
In general, inhalant withdrawal symptoms appear within two days of the last use, and they last for up to one week. However, some individuals experience a phenomenon known as post-acute withdrawal syndrome, or PAWS. This is characterized by cravings, depression, and other psychological symptoms, and which can last for up to two years.
Inhalant withdrawal follows a timeline. Hence, symptoms appear at different points in time while the substance is working its way out of the system. The timetable differs slightly for everyone, based on factors like their age and physical sex, their medical history, what substances were used and in what quantities, and their body weight.
For most people, the inhalant withdrawal timeline looks something like this:
The first two days: Physical symptoms such as tremors, vomiting, sweating, and headaches occur. While psychological symptoms such as anxiety and cravings may also be present, this initial phase is dominated by the physical symptoms.
The first week: After about two days, the physical withdrawal symptoms start to fade, and psychological symptoms become prevalent. These include depression, anxiety and mood swings.
Second week and beyond: For several weeks, what symptoms remain will gradually fade until they are gone. For most individuals, this will take no more than about one month, but PAWS is a possibility that should be monitored for.
What Is Inhalant Detox?
Medical detox is a process whereby inhalant addicts are placed under the supervision of one or more medical professionals during withdrawal. The primary focus is to ensure that the individual is safe and as comfortable as possible while the substance is making its way out of the system, and to treat withdrawal symptoms if and when they arise. Medical detox serves several purposes:
Proper medical care, including nutrition, helps the individual’s body recover from the ravages of substance abuse
It gets the individual into a recovery frame of mind, allowing for a smooth transition into rehab
It protects the individual during a time when their risk of relapse is at its highest
Many inpatient addiction rehab centres have an on-site inhalant detox centre, which makes it easy for addiction rehab to begin as soon as the detox phase is over.
Inhalant Addiction Treatment
One of the tragedies about inhalant addiction is that it strikes people who are very young. In many cases, children and teenagers are driven to substance abuse by stressful circumstances in their lives, such as bullying, peer pressure, family difficulties and more. Unfortunately, not all young people have access to trusted adults who can help them through their troubles and guide them toward healthy coping mechanisms.
If children and teens are not shown how to quit inhalant addiction during their youth, they are susceptible to long-term addiction problems throughout their adult lives.
At 1000 Islands Addiction Rehab & Treatment Centre, we provide inpatient inhalant addiction treatment to people of all ages. Our treatment programs are customized to the individual, based on their unique needs and circumstances. We do not believe in treating the addiction: we treat the individual as a whole. We help them explore difficult areas of their lives. We help them discover new, healthier ways of coping with stress, and we set our clients up for a lifetime of happiness, success, and sobriety.
For more information about our addiction treatment services and how they can help you or your loved one overcome an addiction to inhalants, call us today at 855-601-0555.
Usually, when you hear someone talking about addictions, you’re probably not going to start thinking of inhalants, much less, quitting inhalant addiction. Your mind is much more likely to go in other directions. After all, there’s cocaine, marijuana, and even non-drug-related addictions.
But, somehow, inhalant addiction is real. It converts what should be a perfectly normal/regular item into an alternative source of high and sends its user to “mars”.
Despite its inherent disadvantages, addicts cannot stop using it just by saying so. This form of addiction may have been a rare phenomenon in the past. However, today, it’s more common than you’d think.
With more and more people getting addicted to inhalants, it’s important to go through addiction treatment. That’s why we’ll be focusing on this relatively new form of addiction. More importantly, we’ll be walking you through how you can go about quitting inhalant addiction safely.
What is Inhalant Addiction?
Before you even start thinking about quitting inhalant addiction, it is essential for you to at least understand what the condition is.
Inhalants aren’t exactly drugs in themselves. In fact, an inhalant is a common industrial and/or household chemical with volatile or pressurized gases. More often than not, its producers have no other intention except the primary, non-drug-related reason it was created.
However, some people pressurize the vapours in these chemicals. Afterwards, they inhale them through the mouth or the nose to get high. Inhalants come in different forms, and they fall into different categories. A few include:
Solvents
Gases
Nitrites
Aerosols
Regardless of the type of inhalant a person experiments with, the truth is that this type of “makeshift drug” is still pretty addictive. So much so that users may need to go to an inhalant addiction recovery centre if they’re to get better.
How to Stop Inhalant Addiction Safely
Without beating around the bush too much, we can confidently say that you need inhalant addiction treatment to quit this substance safely. This is because quitting inhalant addiction, like any other form of addiction, isn’t particularly easy. The difficulty in the inhalant addiction recovery process lies in the withdrawal symptoms that come with the condition.
These symptoms vary in severity based on several things, including the level of addiction. However, they are still very much existent. For that reason, it’s not particularly smart to go into the “battle” half baked. In the best-case scenario, you’ll just quit and go back to sniffing inhalants. In the worst-case scenario, you’ll cause some major damage to your health.
So, if you hope to get over this problem, you need to sign up for a recovery program. They come at different costs and last for varying amounts of time. However, the end goal is the same, and it’s to help you get out of that addiction.
Now, it doesn’t mean that those who go solo cannot achieve anything. With enough support from a loved one and a reasonable amount of determination, everything is possible. However, those who get professional help are much more likely to remain clean even after they’ve gone past the first few weeks/days of recovery.
Types of Inhalant Addiction Recovery Programs
There are different kinds of recovery programs. Each of them is designed specifically to cater to the specific needs of individuals. They are:
Teen Programs
As implied in the name, these kinds of programs are mostly for teenagers and adolescents. This type of program often uses detoxification, recreational activities and counselling to get things done.
The best part is that it works around the teen’s academic life. As such that they don’t have to stop attending school in the process of quitting inhalant addiction.
Inpatient Recovery Programs
This kind of program for quitting inhalant addiction is slightly different. It offers round-the-clock treatment for people who are suffering through inhalant addiction.
Addiction treatment professionals usually reserve it for those who have the most severe addiction conditions. So, unlike teen programs, it doesn’t provide the flexibility of school attendance.
But, the end goal remains to help the patient get through the addiction. Experts achieve this through medical supervision, therapy, and management of withdrawal symptoms.
Outpatient Recovery Programs
This is the direct opposite of number two above. In this approach to quitting inhalant addiction, this program allows its patients to come in as they please. Of course, the sessions are the function of the schedule. But, it isn’t quite as “intense” as the inpatient recovery program.
This type of program is perfect if you’ve only just begun your experiment with inhalants. It’s especially great for those looking to quit before it gets really bad.
Counselling Programs
Experts can organize counselling programs for groups or create them specifically for individuals. With the former, you’ll have to receive counselling alongside other people who have a similar condition.
With the latter, you’ll be meeting your therapist one-on-one. While group counselling offers the support advantage, individual counselling helps your therapist to spot your problems better.
12-Step Programs
This particular option approaches quitting inhalant addiction through social support with the self-help philosophy. It often involves a group of people sharing behavioural, spiritual, and cognitive methods of recovery. By providing potential solutions to other people suffering from inhalant addiction, they can help themselves out of it.
Dual-Diagnosis Programs
Addiction often comes along with some form of mental health issue or the other. However, it doesn’t neglect the substance abuse issue either. It balances both to create a perfectly healthy individual.
How to Choose a Program for Safe Inhalant Addiction Treatment
Here are a few questions you should ask before you decide on a program to sign up for.
Will you be able to use a cellphone or computer during the process? This is particularly important if you need to keep up with a remote job or something of that sort.
Will the recovery program be able to cater to any special dietary patterns you might have?
How strict is the program about having visitors?
Do they have national accreditation?
Does the facility have essential amenities that will make living comfortable? This is specifically for inpatient recovery programs.
What is their treatment philosophy?
How qualified are their staff?
What is the distance from your place of residence?
These questions will help you determine whether the program is the right fit for you or your loved one. Your selection should be the result of a proper evaluation of the answers to these questions.
What You Can do To Aid the Inhalant Addiction Recovery Process
Quitting inhalant addiction requires a bit more than just the effort of your professional treatment personnel. You also need to apply effort, especially if you want to quit healthily and stay clean. So, here’s what you need to do:
Remain committed to your treatment programs
The inpatient addiction recovery program basically keeps you under “lock and key.” So, there’s not much of a chance that you’ll be able to get out of it and fade into a lack of commitment. However, if you aren’t going for an inpatient program, the chances are that you’ll want to skip a few sessions. Don’t do it!
No matter what your excuse is, don’t skip your sessions. At the very least, try to reschedule. It may be difficult, but it’s necessary. In this regard, we’ll suggest that you get an accountability partner.
Identify and stay away from your triggers
This is something that your treatment personnel should help you do. However, even if you’ve not quite gotten to that stage yet, try to do it yourself. Essentially, figure out those things that make you go back to sniffing the chemicals.
Is it your friends that tempt you to go in that direction? Does it happen when you’re stressed? Do you get the temptation to do it when you’re out partying? Find out what it is and then ensure you stay away from it.
Confront the reasons behind your inhalation habits
Why do you choose to bury your nose in aerosol? Why do you think it’s good to spray these things in your face just to get high? There has to be a reason behind it.
Are you trying to avoid some sort of emotional problem? Do you do it because you need a means to relax?
As much as your therapist helps you figure it out, take a step further and confront them yourself. That’s the only sure path to growth and freedom.
The Benefits of Quitting Inhalant Addiction
You’ll reduce the chances of health risks such as impaired depth perception, memory loss, headaches, brain damage, etc.
You’ll be able to focus better.
You can improve on damaged relationships as a result of the addiction.
In Conclusion
This article provides a guide to inhalant abuse treatment. Basically, it aims to help support you through the process of quitting inhalant addiction. However, it’s not just enough for you to read it. Doing that will be the equivalent of checking out workout routines to lose weight without actually following them.
That’s why you have to check out our addiction recovery services for inhalant addiction. Here at 1000 Islands Addiction Rehab & Treatment Centre, our primary aim is to help you transcend this rocky stage and become an addiction-free individual. With our experience and expertise, we can design a custom inhalant addiction treatment for you. Contact us today.
