What, you may be asking, is “inhalant use disorder?” Simply put, this is a sickness that develops when people begin to abuse drugs called inhalants, e.g. the gaseous materials or fumes inside chemical products. Anything, from spray paint to glue, from nitrous oxide to lighter fluid, is fair game for people who are seeking a cheap but deadly high. In some cases, people will place the sources inside paper bags and inhale the saturated fumes as part of a process called “huffing.” Keep in mind that, in order to be diagnosed with a use disorder, the victim must willingly and deliberately consume these gases, despite being fully aware of the potential danger. Let’s take a closer look at how inhalant use disorder is diagnosed.
Telltale Signs of the Sickness
Based on the definition listed in the DSM-5, inhalant use disorder is characterized by the following symptoms:
- The initial risk of consuming inhalants, to begin with;
- A person uses higher quantities of the inhalant or for a longer time than he or she had originally intended;
- A person makes an attempt to quit using the inhalant but cannot willingly do so;
- A person will go to extreme measures to get their hands on an inhalant or will take a long time to consume or recover from it;
- A person will continuously suffer from cravings for the inhalant;
- A person’s private life and social life begin to falter due to his or her use of the inhalant; and
- Developing a physiological tolerance for inhalants.
Recognizing the Symptoms
Although immediate changes may be detected among working college students and adults, the problem with inhalant use disorder is that many of the side effects are similar to the emotional roller coast of puberty and growth during the teenage years. Neglectfulness, anxiety, anger, confusion, sleeplessness, and irritability are all common behavioral issues exhibited by teens and preteens. However, keep an eye out for indications of intoxication, particularly if your son or daughter does not, to your full knowledge, drink alcohol or do drugs.
Seeking Treatment for Inhalant Use Disorder
Although pens, glue, and additional household products may seem relatively harmless, you have to remember that these items contain serious chemicals that, in a strange twist, have a high potential for abuse. Many young people will seek out these products as cheaper means to get high, and inhalants can eventually serve as gateway products for more severe substances like meth or heroin; the list goes on. If you have a loved one who is inhaling these toxic gases, your best option is to seek help for them as quickly as possible.
Are you suffering from a severe case of drug abuse or addiction? Do you have a friend or a family member who is coping with one of these issues, as well? In both accounts, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Our professional team of counselors and healthcare experts will help you endure the painful process of withdrawal and detox and guide you along the rocky road of rehabilitation. Soon enough, you will experience a faster and much more efficient recovery.
If you want to find out more about our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs or enroll in one of these programs today, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your leisure and your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how you can overcome your mental illness and take an extra step towards breaking away from opioid addiction.