Are Inhalants Addictive? Understanding the Risks and Long-Term Effects

Substance use disorder (SUD) is most commonly referred to as a pattern of any type of harmful substance such as drugs and alcohol that is routinely used to alter your mood or state of being. The root causes of substance use disorder vary, and because of this, it has proven to be a difficult issue to get under control.

One of the most important, yet misunderstood and unknown, substances that contribute to the rising global epidemic of substance use disorder are inhalants. This begs the question: What are inhalants and what risk do they pose to the wellbeing of our society at large?

In today’s article, we are going to be taking a close look at the role inhalants play in substance use disorder, including the risks associated with them and some of their negative long-term effects.

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Among Young People

While the majority of young people are in relatively good health, an unsettlingly growing population of adolescents suffer from substance use disorder with each passing year.

In a recent report published by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), roughly 15% of the young people spoken to stated that they had tried selected illicit and injection drugs including cocaine, inhalants, heroin, methamphetamines, hallucinogens, or ecstasy.

Risk Factors in Young People

While it is impossible to predict the likelihood of an individual developing  any type of substance use disorder, there are a variety of highly correlated risk factors that can be useful to help identify high risk young people who may need a bit of extra care.

Some of the most common risk factors included a family history of substance use disorder, low academic achievement, childhood sexual assault, and a peer group consisting of individuals engaging in similar behavior, among others.

Prevention and Treatment

As is the case with substance use disorder in any demographic of people, it is critical to identify it as early as possible and seek help right away. The longer someone waits to seek help and create a recovery plan, the less likely they are to  achieve long-lasting sobriety.

With young people, it is important to constantly be vigilant and on the lookout for any potential issues related to substance use disorder. Even the mildest indication that somebody you know and love may be suffering from substance use disorder is a good enough reason to open a dialogue about recovery, as it could be the thing that makes the difference and inspires them to seek treatment and  long-term sobriety.

For newer drugs with less education surrounding them such as whippets, it is crucial to make sure that your children and the other young people around you are aware of the danger they pose.

While it is obvious to the vast majority of young people that well known drugs such as heroin and methamphetamines are life-threatening, substances like whippets can seem minor and they may fall victim to the false assumption that they can experiment with them without significant risk.

Whippets: A Growing Epidemic

Whippets or whip-its, are a type of inhalant drug that is especially popular amongst teens and young adults. While it may sound unusual, the name “whippets” comes from whipped cream containers that contain small chargers filled with nitrous oxide that are used to dispense the whipped cream out of the can.

Individuals who use whippets to get high inhale this gas directly from the charger or fill something like a bag or small balloon with it before ingesting. This ingestion leads to a short-lived high.

Are Whippets Addictive?

In short: yes. Whippets are highly addictive inhalants that pose an incredible danger to users over an extended period of time.

One of the main reasons for this is that the euphoric feeling of intense pleasure that comes from the decrease in oxygen in your blood is short-lived (usually only lasting a few seconds or a minute at most), people tend to do more and more in an attempt to make this feeling last long.

Additionally, it is important to note that whippets are considerably easier for young people to access than other types of illicit drugs, which can make them both incredibly dangerous and tempting to various demographics of adolescents across a wide variety of socioeconomic classes.

Short-Term Side Effects

In the short term, usage of whippets can lead to immediate impairment of judgment, decision-making, and core motor skills. This leads to a heavily increased likelihood of injuring oneself or those around them while under the influence of the harmful inhalant.

Further, some studies have even suggested that the usage of whippets can even lead to psychiatric issues. A few more of the most common issues that stem from the usage of whippets in the short term include the following:

• Irregular heart rhythms
• Nausea
• Irritability or emotional regulation issues
• Dizziness or loss of consciousness

Long-Term Side Effects

One of the most pressing and concerning long-term effects that whippets can have is the intense strain and damage repeated usage places on your core organs. This is due to the massive stress that stems from the decreased oxygen available in your blood.

This heightened level of stress, when maintained over a longer period of time, can lead to incredibly harmful, life-threatening issues such as kidney disease and irreparable liver damage. Because of this, the importance of treating addiction to inhalants such as whippets early on can not be overstated.

SoberMind Recovery Is Here to Help

SoberMind Recovery is a Los Angeles recovery center that offers a wide range of specialized treatment, recovery, and rehabilitation programs, ranging from LGBTQ sober living to dual diagnosis treatment. They also provide individual, group, and cognitive behavioral therapy options.

Our mission here at SoberMind Recovery is to provide individualized, research-backed care in a compassionate and high quality environment while making a difference in the world of addiction. We help people achieve long-lasting recovery and lead well balanced lives.

Residents of the Los Angeles area are encouraged to call today 100% free of charge at 818-835-9268 or 819-398-8047 to see if our compassionate, evidence-based treatment options are a good fit for you and your recovery needs.