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Volatile substance abuse or solvent abuse (called huffing) is the practice of inhaling volatile substances for their psychoactive effects. Frequent, prolonged volatile substance abuse often leads to permanent brain damage.
Common substances
Note that diethyl ether and nitrous oxide are not in this category even though they are inhaled and can be used recreationally. Their psychoactive effects involve a completely different and much less harmful mechanism (which is why they are used in medicine as anaesthetics).
Methods of use Spray paint (especially silver coloured paint), petroleum products, and even fly spray, are sprayed into plastic bags to trap the gas, and the bag is held to the face as the user inhales.
Solvent-based glue and markers are generally held to the nose, and the fumes inhaled. Propane and butane may be inhaled directly from the canister. Gasoline may be poured onto a rag which is then held to the face.
In several parts of the world where glue-sniffing is widespread, terms for glue-sniffers have arisen based on brand-names of substances, such as aurolaci in Romania from the brand name Aurolac, or resistoleros in Brazil from the brand name Resistol. These terms are often used even in English-language writing about substance abuse in those regions.
Harmful side effects Many substances used for glue sniffing have harmful health effects like neurotoxicity or cancer if used over extended periods of time. Solvents are considered some of the most dangerous substances used recreationally, doing serious damage to the brain and central nervous system, and are generally only used by young substance abusers or as a desperate last resort for financially deprived addicts. The practice has existed among the very poor in various urban slums around the world at least since the 1960s.
Unlike many other recreational drugs, volatile solvents can cause sudden loss of consciousness. This can be extremely dangerous. There are reports of users falling down and sustaining critical injuries, getting into car accidents, or passing out into the plastic bag being used for huffing and then dying of asphyxiation.
Inhalant abuse is mostly the domain of teenagers and others who have no access to other intoxicants, such as alcohol. The substances are relatively cheap and can usually be obtained legally. In many jurisdictions, minors are prohibited from buying airplane glue because of its potential for abuse.
See also - "Sniffin' Glue" (magazine)
External links - DrGreene.com - What Parents Should Know About "Huffing" (http://www.drgreene.com/21_180.html)
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