The Types Of Inhalants include volatile solvents, aerosols, gases, and nitrites. These categories encompass a variety of household and industrial products such as paint thinners, spray paint, nitrous oxide, and poppers. Recognizing the signs of inhalant use disorder can help catch addiction early. The devastating impact of inhalant use disorder extends far beyond the individual user, affecting families, communities, and healthcare systems. What makes this “forgotten epidemic” particularly tragic is that many of its victims are young people whose developing brains suffer permanent damage before they can fully understand the consequences of their actions. These overlapping conditions necessitate dual diagnosis treatment, where both the substance use disorder and mental health conditions are addressed simultaneously.
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Inhalant Addiction Treatment in Orange County
Inhalants may seem harmless at first, but they pose serious health dangers. The second type includes aerosols, such as spray paint, hair sprays, and deodorants. Gases are the third category, including butane lighters, propane tanks, and whipped cream dispensers. Finally, nitrites, often called “poppers,” are used to enhance sexual experiences rather than for a euphoric high. At New Jersey Behavioral Health, we know that taking the step to seek help is courageous.
Therapies Used in Inhalant Addiction Treatment
Peer influence can significantly impact your decision-making process regarding substance use. Inhalants are also found in products like glue, nail polish remover, and gasoline, making them readily available even to teenagers. The easy access to these substances increases the risk of experimentation and subsequent addiction. Inpatient programs provide a structured environment where you can focus solely on recovery. Therapy sessions, group activities, and educational workshops are part of the comprehensive treatment plan.
Inhalant Abuse
Chronic use can lead to more severe health issues, including liver and kidney damage, as well as long-term effects on the brain. To assist in overcoming the challenges of inhalant addiction, healthcare providers might recommend medications like antidepressants to manage co-occurring mental health conditions. These medications can help stabilize mood swings and address underlying issues contributing to substance abuse. Medication-assisted treatment can significantly enhance recovery outcomes by reducing withdrawal discomfort. Inhalant addiction is a pressing concern due to the easy access to a wide array of substances like solvents, aerosols, gasses, and nitrites found in everyday products. These inhalants, ranging from paint thinners to “poppers,” are misused for their psychoactive effects, leading to serious health risks including brain damage and sudden death due to toxicities.
Anxiety disorders
Other commonly abused inhalants include nitrous oxide, chloroform, and ether — once a surgical anesthetic. Inhalant addiction severely affects mental health by causing mood disorders, anxiety, and in severe cases, hallucinations or delusional behavior. The toxic chemicals in inhalants alter brain chemistry and cause permanent damage to the central nervous system. Addressing these mental health issues is critical in the treatment process. Therapeutic approaches like group counseling offer peer support and professional guidance, which help mitigate the psychological effects of inhalant abuse and aid in the recovery of mental wellness. Other risks include suffocation, choking, and accidents due to impaired judgment and coordination.
- They might also display aggressive behavior or unexplained secrecy regarding their actions.
- The repeated use of inhalants can sometimes lead to an addiction known as inhalant use disorder.
- Calmerry provides online therapy sessions with licensed professionals who can guide you through coping strategies and effective treatments for cannabis use disorder.
- Additionally, chronic use results in significant physical health deterioration, including organ dysfunction and noticeable changes in appearance, underscoring the critical need for awareness and intervention.
- These withdrawal symptoms can be made worse by the presence of any polydrug use, such as alcohol or stimulants, or any co-occurring mental health disorders.
Outpatient treatment provides individualized therapy plans tailored to your specific needs and progress. You will learn coping mechanisms and strategies to manage cravings and prevent relapse effectively. Regular check-ins with healthcare professionals ensure that you stay on track with your recovery goals. In inpatient settings, you have access to medical detoxification if needed to manage withdrawal symptoms safely.
However, the effects are short-lived, often lasting only a few minutes, leading to repeated use in a short period. Over time, this behavior can develop into a compulsive disorder, where the individual becomes dependent on inhalants to function or feel normal. Outpatient facilities can offer the same level of treatment and care as inpatient centers, but do not provide a safe space free from temptation. They do however allow people to carry on with other life responsibilities and are normally recommended for those with inhalant use disorder: what it is, symptoms and treatment milder addictions or who have already completed a course of treatment in an inpatient facility.
Addiction: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms, Types & Treatment
The signs of inhalant addiction include behavioral changes like withdrawal from daily activities, physical indicators such as chemical odors and disorientation, and psychological symptoms including sudden mood swings and confusion. Inpatient care for inhalant addiction offers intensive treatment in a residential facility. You will reside at the center full-time, receiving round-the-clock care and support. This level of care is beneficial for those with severe addiction or co-occurring mental health issues.
- Therapeutic approaches like group counseling offer peer support and professional guidance, which help mitigate the psychological effects of inhalant abuse and aid in the recovery of mental wellness.
- As very little research on Inhalant abuse, dependence and addiction exist, it is difficult to pinpoint exactly what the symptoms of withdrawal look like.
- Getting through inhalant abuse addiction is a challenging journey, but it’s certainly possible.
- These factors work together to influence an individual into getting Inhalant addiction.
In a medical setting, healthcare providers administer supportive care, such as oxygen therapy, intravenous fluids, and monitoring of vital signs. Signs of inhalant addiction include behavioral changes, chemical odor on breath or clothing, frequent runny nose or nosebleeds, confusion, loss of appetite, and mood swings. CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) helps users change harmful thinking patterns. Support groups and family counseling also provide essential encouragement and accountability.
Inhalant use disorder can have devastating effects, but recovery is possible with the right help. If you or someone you care about is struggling with inhalant abuse, now is the time to take action. Retreat of Broward in South Florida offers safe, supportive care and medically supervised detox.
My Administration will take a new approach focused on protecting public safety. If you’re considering reducing or stopping use of a substance you’ve been using heavily or habitually, it’s best to talk with a healthcare professional about the type of care you may need. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, text revision (DSM-5-TR) outlines criteria for substance use disorder. Substance use disorder can range from mild to severe, depending on the number of symptoms a person has. Users often soak a rag in a chemical and place it over their face or inhale directly from a container. Huffing creates an immediate high by slowing brain activity and depressing the central nervous system.
Treatment for inhalant dependence can take place in either an inpatient facility, which will involve a stay in residential rehab for 30 to 90 days, or in an outpatient facility. Valley Spring Recovery Center offers comprehensive addiction and mental health treatment services. Contact our admissions team, available 24/7, to start your journey towards recovery. Studies highlight muscle weakness severe enough to require hospitalization and irreversible neurological damage.
