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January 5, 2012

Household Inhalants (Huffing)

From the white-out on your desk to the cooking spray in your common area, there are more than 1,000 typical household agents that can be inhaled to get a cheap high. You're probably familiar with some of the substances that are easily obtainable around the house that you can use to get a short high. Abuse of household products is generally referred to as huffing, bagging, or gliding. Indeed, new research suggests that 12% of teenagers have tried huffing by the time they finish their senior year of high school. The most common inhalants include spray paint, correction fluid, nail polish, cleaning fluids, rubber glue, paint thinner, and aerosolized computer cleaner. These products can be inhaled directly from the container, or poured onto a rag or roll of toilet paper and "huffed." Fumes from these household inhalants can also be breathed in through a plastic bag, also referred to as "bagging." Regardless of the delivery method, euphoria and dissociative intoxication effects occur within seconds of inhaling. On the downside, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, confusion, and shortness of breath are also common inhalation side effects. Despite the negative effects, simple household agents are extremely addictive, resulting in withdrawal symptoms after as few as several uses. Even one attempt at huffing can produce fatal cardiac arrhythmia, a condition more commonly known as "sudden sniffing death syndrome." With long-term abuse, these agents can result in permanent brain damage, muscle weakness, and fatal liver damage. Because of their negative effects and high potential for addiction, household good should only be used in the manner they were intended.

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Last Updated:
December 20, 2012