“There’s no ID required. It’s odorless. It’s everything kids look for. They can afford it, they can get it, and it doesn’t show in mom and dad’s drug test.”
Dana O’Rourke lost her 19-year-old daughter to “dusting,” a trend popularized on social media.1 Dusting is one of the many slang terms used to describe the use of inhalants. As O’Rourke says, inhalants are easy to get and generally undetectable, making it appealing to young people. Below, learn more about dusting and huffing, the signs of inhalant misuse, and how to keep your child safe.
Key Takeaways:
- Inhalant misuse: Huffing and dusting involve inhaling substances like aerosol sprays or household chemicals, posing serious health risks.
- Warning Signs: Look for unusual chemical odors, headaches, dizziness, slurred speech, and behavioral changes.
- Prevention: Educate loved ones, keep chemicals out of reach, monitor activities, and seek professional help if needed.
What Are Inhalants?
Inhalants are everyday household products that some people misuse to get high. This dangerous practice has many slang names including “huffing,” “dusting,” “sniffing,” “whippets,” and “huff.” (see other terms at the end of this article) These products were never meant to be breathed in on purpose and using them this way can cause serious harm or even death.2
Common household items that get misused include:3
- Computer keyboard cleaners (canned air)
- Spray paint
- Nail polish remover
- Certain types of glue
- Markers and correction fluid
- Hair spray and deodorant
- Cooking spray
- Cleaning fluids
- Gasoline
- Whipped cream dispensers (the propellant)
- Air conditioner fluid (Freon)
Why This Is Happening More Often
Inhalant misuse has become more visible, especially among younger teens. There are several reasons why this is concerning:
Easy to Find: Unlike other substances, these products are legal and found in almost every home, school, and store. Kids don’t need to buy anything special or find a dealer.
Social Media Influence: Some social media challenges and videos show people using inhalants, making it seem normal or fun. These videos don’t show the real dangers or the people who get seriously hurt.
False Safety: Because these products are sold in stores, some people think they must be safe to use in any way. This is far from the truth. (There are stores dedicated to the sale of alcohol, for example, and alcohol comes with many health risks.)
Quick Effect: Inhalants work very fast – within seconds of breathing them in, a person feels intoxicated with effects similar to being drunk on alcohol. This quick effect can make them appealing to curious teens, but it’s also what makes them so dangerous.
The Real Dangers
Using inhalants is extremely risky, even the first time. Here’s what can happen:
- Immediate Effects: Within seconds, users may experience slurred speech, inability to coordinate movements, dizziness, confusion, delirium, nausea, and vomiting. They may also have lightheadedness, hallucinations, and delusions.
- Sudden Death: This can happen to anyone, even healthy people using inhalants for the first time. It’s called “sudden sniffing death syndrome.”
- Brain Damage: Inhalants can permanently damage parts of the brain that control thinking, moving, seeing, and hearing. Effects can range from mild problems to severe dementia.
- Heart Problems: These chemicals can cause irregular heartbeat and heart failure.
- Suffocation: People can pass out and stop breathing.
- Dangerous Behavior: Because the high only lasts a few minutes, people often keep using inhalants over several hours to maintain the feeling. This greatly increases the risk of losing consciousness and death.
- Long-term Problems: Regular use can cause weight loss, muscle weakness, disorientation, trouble paying attention and other problems related to thinking, lack of coordination, irritability, and depression. After heavy use, people may feel drowsy for hours and have lasting headaches. Their use can also lead to addiction.
Warning Signs Parents Should Watch For
Parents and other caregivers should look out for these signs of inhalant misuse:
Physical Signs:
- Chemical smell on breath or clothes
- Paint stains on face, hands, or clothing
- Red or runny nose and eyes
- Spots or sores around the mouth
- Drunk-like behavior without alcohol smell
- Loss of appetite
Behavioral Changes:
- Sudden mood swings
- Becoming secretive or isolated
- Declining grades
- Loss of interest in hobbies or friends
- Finding hidden cans, bottles, or rags
Items Around the House:
- Empty spray cans or bottles
- Missing household products
- Rags or clothing that smell like chemicals
- Hidden bags or balloons
What Parents Can Do
- Talk Early and Often: Have honest conversations about drugs and inhalants before problems start. Explain that legal doesn’t mean safe. Other important messages are:
- No temporary feeling is worth risking your life or permanent brain damage.
- Real friends won’t pressure you to try dangerous things. It’s okay to say no.
- Remember that social media doesn’t show the whole story. Videos don’t show the people who got seriously hurt or died.
- Secure Products: Keep inhalants locked up or in hard-to-reach places, especially if you suspect a problem.
- Stay Involved: Know your child’s friends, activities, and where they spend time.
- Monitor Online Activity: Be aware of what your kids see on social media and talk about dangerous trends.
- Get Help: If you suspect inhalant misuse, contact your doctor, school counselor, or an addiction professional immediately.
If you discover that your child is under the influence of inhalants:
- Don’t leave them alone if they seem confused or sick
- Call 911 if they pass out or have trouble breathing
- Encourage them to talk about why they are using inhalants
- Connect with Partnership to End Addiction for guidance and resources
Additional Terms and Information
The following provides more information on inhalants from “The Clinical Assessment and Treatment of Inhalant Abuse”:4
- Bagging: inhaling fumes from a soaked cloth sprayed with euphoria-inducing substances and deposited inside a paper or plastic bag.
- Ballooning: inhaling a gas (usually nitrous oxide) from a balloon.
- Chroming: spraying paint from an aerosol can into a plastic bag and then breathing the vapors from the bag.
- Dusting: spraying an aerosol directly into the nose or mouth.
- Gladding: inhaling air-freshener aerosols sprayed near the face.
- Glue sniffer’s rash/huffer’s rash: refers to a skin condition that occurs around the mouth and midface. Glue or other chemicals dry out the skin and dissolve its natural oils, leading to inflammation, redness, and sometimes infections.
- Huffing: inhaling a substance from a cloth or rags that have been soaked and are held close to the face.
- Poppers/snappers: amyl nitrite packaged in small bottles that are opened to release the vapors; sold under trade names Super Rush, Locker Room, Bolt, Jungle Juice, Quick Silver, and Extreme Formula.5
- Popper’s maculopathy: is damage to vision in the central part of the retina caused by using alkyl nitrites, which are chemicals often found in certain inhalants.
- Sniffing/snorting: inhaling a substance from an open container directly through the mouth or nose.
- Snotballs: inhaling smoke from the burning of rubber cement, where the adhesive is rolled into balls then burned to release the fumes.
- Whippets: vials of nitrous oxide gas, most commonly from whipped cream aerosol canisters. The nitrous oxide can be extracted following whipped cream discharge, after which the released gas can be inhaled at close range or transferred to a balloon and then inhaled.
The Bottom Line
Inhalant use might seem harmless because these products are common household items, but it’s one of the most dangerous forms of substance use. The risk of serious injury or death is real from the very first use. By understanding the dangers, staying informed, and learning how to spot the signs of inhalant misuse, parents can better protect their families.
Remember: There is no safe way to use inhalants. The only safe choice is not to use them at all. If you’re concerned about your loved one, don’t hesitate to reach out to us for support.