Inhalants are drugs that are inhaled, or breathed in. Many of them are regular things you find in a household, like hair spray, paint cans, glue, and markers.

Inhalants contain chemicals. These chemicals change the way a person’s brain works. They can make a person feel happy, but only for a short time. 

Some inhalants are absorbed into the brain and nervous system. They do not go away for a long time.

Some inhalants affect a person’s heart. They can make the heart beat a lot faster than it is supposed to. They can even make someone’s heart stop beating completely.

 If people use inhalants for a long period of time, their nerve cells can stop working. If this happens, they are unable to feel things. They might walk very slowly, or might have trouble keeping their balance.

Inhalants affect memory, too. People can have trouble remembering phone numbers. They may not recognize places they have been before. They may even have trouble talking to other people.

If you know someone who you think is using inhalants, please tell a responsible adult. Anyone who uses inhalants or any other drug needs your help!

To learn more about inhalants, be sure to visit these sites:  http://kidshealth.org/kid/grow/drugs_alcohol/know_drugs_inhalants.html and http://www.drugfree.org/Portal/drug_guide/Inhalants.

Pictures used with permission from http://www.drugfree.org/Portal/drug_guide/Inhalants or drawn by group members.