What are Inhalants?
Inhalants are accessible, legal, everyday products. When used as labels direct, these products have a useful purpose in our lives. But when intentionally misused by inhaling their fumes and gases, inhalants can cause serious harm and even death.
Inhalants contain chemicals that act as depressants. Depressants slow down the central nervous system affecting coordination and concentration. Other depressant drugs are ganja, putau and alcohol.

Common inhalants: Glue, fuel, solvents, paint thinners, liquid paper, sprays, etc.
Inhalants affect the brain with much greater speed and force than many other substances; this can cause irreversible physical and mental damage. Suffocation and sudden death can occur even on the first time

What are the immediate effects of inhalants?
A quick, giddy head rush
Slight stimulation
Bad breath
Headaches
Lack of coordination
Numb hands and feet
Nausea and vomiting
What are the long-term effects of inhalants?
Hearing loss
Limb spasms
Bone marrow damage
Liver and kidney damage
Blood oxygen depletion
Hallucinations
Reduced muscle tone and strength
Prolonged use has been linked to leukemia
Physical and physiological addiction
Chronic inhalant abusers may permanently lose the ability to perform everyday functions like walking, talking, and thinking.

Tolerance
When inhalant use continues over a period of time, a user will develop a tolerance to inhalants. This means that the user will need frequent use and greater amounts of an inhalant to achieve the effects desired.

Death
According to medical experts, death can occur in at least five instances:
Asphyxia -gases can significantly limit available oxygen in the air causing breathing to stop.
Suffocation - typically seen with inhalant users who use bags.
Choking on vomit.
Careless and dangerous behavior in risky situations.
SDS - Sudden Death Syndrome -from cardiac arrest.

Brain Damage
Long-term use of inhalants can slow or stop nerve cell activity in some parts of the brain causing clumsiness, loss of memory and the ability to learn quickly and solve problems. Inhalants can cause permanent damage to the brain.

Violence
Both first-time and long-term inhalant users can become violent and aggressive. The extreme and often very quick intoxication produced by inhalants can cause users to behave in ways that will physically endanger themselves and others.

What are the signs of inhalant abuse?
Red, glassy or watery eyes
Slow, thick slurred speech
Paint on hands or around mouth
General drunken appearance
Chemical odor in the room
Unusual breath odor

If someone offers you inhalants you can say:
That stuff is dangerous
I'm not into that
My parents would not approve
No thanks