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When exposed to air, and ‘solvents’ referring to their capacity in liquid form to dissolve many other substances.

Experts claim up to 1,000 household products can be used as "inhalants" - airplane glue, rubber cement, paint thinner, nail polish remover, bleach, kerosene, felt tip markers, butane, gasoline, dry cleaning fluid, spot remover, vegetable cooking spray and propane. One way children are trying to get high is by inhaling these ordinary household products - either by sniffing (through the nose) or huffing (through the mouth). And parents often don't know about it.

Inhalants may be the first substance a child uses, before alcohol or tobacco or bhang (marijuana), ,often in late childhood or early adolescence.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF USE?
Signs and symptoms of inhalant use include chemical odors on breath or clothing; paint or other stains on face, hands or clothes; drunk or disoriented appearance; slurred speech; inattentiveness; lack of coordination; hidden empty spray paint or solvent containers; and chemical soaked rags or clothing.

WHAT CAN PARENTS DO?
Put household products in a safe place and clearly mark them "poison."

MAJOR VOLATILE SOLVENTS/AEROSOLS

Classification of the solvents is difficult because household and some commercial products may have un-known formulations. In addition they may contain ingredients which are more toxic than the solvents themselves e.g. gasoline sniffing may result to lead poisoning.

The gases (fluorocarbons) used in aerosols to propel the contents have been associated with fatal sniffing deaths.

Volatile solvents are classified as Central Nervous System (C.N.S) Depressants along with other sedatives hypnotic anesthetics and like alcohol may produce a period of temporary stimulation before depression occurs.

METHOD OF ADMINISTRATION

Solvents are often inhaled directly from the container or poured on a rag, into a balloon, or paper/plastic bag and sniffed and inhaled through the mouth and nose.

The aerosol spray may be in haled directly from the can or sprayed first into a container. Solvent sniffing may be a group or private activity.

EFFECT

Inhaled vapors from solvents or aerosols enter the bloodstream through the lungs and are distributed to organs with a large blood circulation (e.g. brain and liver) Being fat soluble and quickly absorbed into the Central Nervous System, they cause depression of many body functions including breathing and heartbeat. Some volatile hydrocarbons are metabolized via the kidneys and others are excreted, unchanged through, through the lungs. Thus, the solvents odor may stay on the users breath or some hours after inhalation.

SHORT TERM

Rapidly perceptible after the initial inhalation, drowsiness, lightheadedness, euphoria, sensations of weightlessness, numbness, dissociation, vivid fantasies and excitation.

Shortly after the onset of early effects, the following may also occur- giddiness, gregariousness, emotional dis-inhibition, motor incordination and muscle weakness, slurred speech, impaired judgment, abnormal sensitivity to light, double vision, pupil dilation and ringing in the ears.

Deep inhalation or repeated sniffing over a short period may result in disorientation (i.e. perceptual distortions of shape, size and colour of objects time and space). Visual pseudo hallucinations (known by the person to be unreal) and true hallucinations sometimes occur. Loss of control, unconsciousness or seizures and depressed reflexes are also characteristic of this stage.

The duration of the euphoric effect is usually between 15 and 45 minutes if it is not prolonged by repeated sniffing in which case it may be maintained for anywhere upto 12 hours. Other effects which follow euphoria generally disappear within two hours. Hangover and headaches may last several days.

LONG TERM

Following repeated use over a long period, pallor, fatigue, forgetfulness, inability to think clearly or logically, tremors, thirst weightloss, irritability, hostility and feelings of prosecution.

Damage to central and peripheral nervous systems, anemia, kidney and liver damage (toluene) peripheral nerve damage, hexane liver and kidney toxicity, (trichlorrethylene) damage to mucous membrane of respiratory tract (acetone) accumulation of toxic levels of lead in the body (gasoline) bone marrow deterioration, heart, liver and adrenal gland damage (benzene)

Many of these long-term effects are reversible if drug use is stopped.

LETHALITY

SOLVENT ABUSE DEATHS OCCUR AS A RESULT OF EXCESSIVE INGESTION WHICH CAUSES c.n.s DEPRESSION INCLUDING THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM (OFTEN OCCURRING IF A PERSON FALLS ASLEEP ON A SATURATED RAG) Asphyxiation, due to lapsing into unconsciousness with plastic bag still over the nose and mouth. Accidental deaths due to dangerous bizarre or impaired behavior induced by intoxicated state.

Sudden sniffing death (S.S.D) most often caused by cardiac arrhythmia as a result of ingestion of fluorocarbons followed by strenuous activity or a state of panic or alarm.

Deaths due to laryngospasm or airway freezing caused by rapid vaporization of fluorocarbons which result in total occlusion of the respiratory tract have been reported.

NB; There are usually no warning signs. Death occurs suddenly and swiftly.

NOTE it is essential to remember that when inhaling a drug, a stronger and faster concentration goes to the tissues than when taking a drug by any other mode, even main lining, since the drug is being introduced into the arterial blood supply. It is transferred directly to all tissues of the body. Thus drugs introduced in this fashion have a cumulative effect and abuse can cause varying irritations and tissue damage as well as the potential for sudden death.

TOLERANCE AND DEPENDENCE

Tolerance to the intoxicating effects of toluene, naphtha and gasoline have been well demonstrated.

Psychological dependence is common

Solvent abuse becomes a part of everyday life.

Physical dependence can occur and withdrawal symptoms such as chill hallucinations, headaches, abdominal pains, muscular cramps, delirium tremens, anxiety, depression, hostile outbursts and irritability have been noted on abrupt termination.

USERS OF INHALANTS

The larger proportion here in Kenya are the street children. However incidents of schoolchildren experimenting have been reported.

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