Inhalant Addiction and Abuse

Inhalants are substances that you can breathe in or huff to get high. Different types of common inhalants can often be bought or found at home, including some markers, glues, spray paints, and cleaning fluids. Inhalant addiction is highly dangerous.

Some of the street names used for inhalants include galaxy gas, whippets, nitrous, glue, gas, sniff, poppers, snappers, room odorizer, aromas, Rush, Bolt, and Jungle Juice.

Side Effects and Risks of Whippets and Inhalant Addiction

Inhalant use has risks and side effects. Some of the short-term side effects of nitrous oxide include:

Impaired judgment
Nausea
Vomiting
Confusion
Delirium
Dizziness
Drowsiness
Slurred speech
Lethargy
Slower reflexes
Muscle weakness

Huffing has potentially fatal side effects as well. The highly-concentrated chemicals in some inhalants can cause your heart to beat rapidly or irregularly and lead to heart failure within minutes. Using inhalants even just one time can also cause you to stop breathing. This fatal risk is known as “sudden sniffing death.”

Some long term side effects include:

Memory problems
Attention issues
Impaired judgment
Damage to pulmonary, cardiac, renal, and neurologic systems
Psychiatric and cognitive deficits

Are Inhalants Addictive?

Another risk associated with this drug use is inhalant addiction. Continued use of whippets can encourage users to return to them over and over again to feel their euphoric effects. In fact, stopping may cause unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, and users are motivated to keep inhaling just to avoid the discomforts of withdrawal. This dependence quickly becomes an addiction.

Types of Inhalants

Several different types of inhalants are commonly used to get high.

Volatile Solvents

These inhalants are liquids that vaporize at room temperature. Some common products that fall into this category are:

Paint thinners
Paint removers
Dry cleaning fluids
Degreasers
Gasoline
Glues
Correction fluids
Felt tip markers

Aerosols

Another type of inhalant is aerosol products, such as:

Spray paints
Hair spray
Deodorant spray
Vegetable oil sprays for cooking
Fabric protector sprays

Gases

Some inhalants come in gas form. The following are examples of gases that are often used to get high:

Ether
Chloroform
Halothane
Butane lighters
Propane tanks
Refrigerants
Nitrous oxide (often called laughing gas)
Galaxy Gas

Nitrites

Nitrates are sold in small bottles known as “poppers.” Unlike most other inhalants, which act directly on the central nervous system, nitrites primarily dilate blood vessels and relax the muscles.

What Do Whippets Do?

What are whippets, and what do they do to your body and brain? The immediate effect inhalants have on you is often described as a rapid euphoric effect that’s similar to what you feel when drinking alcohol or when you’re in the early stages of anesthesia.

These drugs are central nervous system depressants, but the initial effects are due to the release of epinephrine and dopamine in the brain.

Short term effects may include:

Feelings of warmth and excitement
Lightheadedness
Distorted vision
Disorganized thinking
Feel drowsy
Dizziness
Agitation
Headaches
Loss of physical sensation
Unconsciousness

Long-term use of inhalants can lead to damage in the brain and other parts of the nervous system. Chronic use can negatively impact the protective sheath around nerve fibers in the brain, leading to issues in terms of controlling thinking, movement, vision, and hearing.

Reward Center in the Brain

What is galaxy gas used for? The primary motivator of abusing inhalants is to achieve the euphoria you experience when dopamine is released in the brain. This is referred to as the brain’s reward center. Certain substances trigger the release of dopamine, which provides pleasant sensations.

When the dopamine wears off, our brain craves another release of it, which leads us to seek out the substance again. When our cranial reward center gets hijacked by inhalants, it can cause withdrawal symptoms when you try to cease use. Some withdrawal symptoms associated with huffing include:

Nausea
Vomiting
Sweating
Tachycardia
Tremors
Sleep disturbance
Diaphoresis
Psychosis
Insomnia
Seizures

How Many People Use Galaxy Gas and Other Inhalants?

The rate of inhalant use has been generally declining in the United States in the past two decades:

In 2023, less than 1% of people ages 12 and older reported using inhalants at least once in the past year.
Inhalants are most commonly used by adolescents, especially younger adolescents.
Approximately 4% of 8th graders (around 14 years old) reported using inhalants in the last year.
Of those who use inhalants, about 0.1% reported having an inhalant use disorder in the past 12 months.

Some of the risk factors that may be associated with inhalant use are poverty, difficulty at school, lack of opportunity, problems at home, and a high incidence of substance use in the family.

How Do I Know if Someone Has a Huffing Addiction?

There are signs to look for if you’re concerned you or someone you know has a huffing addiction.

Physical signs and symptoms include:

Chemical odor on breath or nothing
Paint or other stains on the face, hands, or clothing
Hidden empty spray paint or inhalant containers
Nausea or vomiting

Psychological and behavioral changes include:

Dazed or disoriented appearance
Slurred speech
Inattentiveness
Lack of coordination
Anxiety
Irritability
Depression
Sleep disturbances
Lying or hiding things
Withdrawing from family and friends
Losing interest in hobbies

Because many of these symptoms are nonspecific and can occur in various medical or mental health conditions unrelated to using inhalants, it’s important to seek out a medical and mental health assessment to determine the underlying cause.

For example, anxiety, depression, or sleep disturbances might signal a mental health issue. Nausea, vomiting, or lack of coordination could indicate other medical problems. Whether the issue is an illness or an addiction, prompt care is critical.

Where Can I Find Information About Inhalant Addiction Treatment?

Many resources can help you find information and help for treatment. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has a helpline for those experiencing a crisis. You can call or text 988, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to speak to someone who can assist you in finding help.

You can also visit Rehab.com to find a list of local rehab facilities in your area. Speaking with a medical professional, such as your doctor or therapist, is another option. They can help you find the specific support you need.

Local support groups are a great way to find peer support and feel less alone in your addiction struggle. Narcotics Anonymous is a well known 12 Step program designed to help individuals struggling with a substance use disorder. You can find local group meetings by searching online.

What Are the Treatment Options for Addiction to Nitrous, Whippets, and Galaxy Gas?

Treatment options for inhalant addiction and misuse are similar to treatment for other substance use disorders. It varies from person to person, depending on your specific needs.

Detox

Treatment often begins with some sort of detox. This is the process of allowing the drug to leave your system. Withdrawal symptoms are very common during this stage of treatment, and rehab staff can provide support to make it as comfortable as possible.

Inpatient Treatment

Many patients will undergo some level of inpatient treatment for inhalant addiction. This means you will stay overnight in a rehab facility for a number of days determined by your treatment team. This allows medical staff to monitor your physical health, while also providing therapeutic care and support to change addictive behaviors moving forward.

Outpatient Treatment

Outpatient treatment is very similar to inpatient treatment, but you do not stay overnight at the facility. You will be expected to attend regular medical appointments as well as individual and group therapy meetings. You may be encouraged to join a local 12-step program as well.

Aftercare

Aftercare is an important part of your recovery journey. Relapse is a common occurrence with substance use disorders, which is why your treatment team will put together an aftercare plan to prevent relapse and ensure your recovery journey continues. Aftercare may include follow-up appointments with doctors and therapists. It may also include regular attendance at local support groups.