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Solvents
Chemical name: Volatile Substances
Drug effect: Depressant
What
are they?
Effects
Risks
Law
 What
are they?
Solvent misuse is the deliberate inhalation of gases, chemical fumes or
vapours in order to get a "high" or "buzz" similar to the intoxication
produced by alcohol. Many common household and industrial products, which
are perfectly safe when used correctly, can be abused. The four main categories
are:
Adhesives
and thinners (glues, paint thinners, nail polish remover).
Dry
cleaning Products (dry-cleaning fluids, paint stripper, typewriter
correcting fluid and thinners, printing industry solvents, shoe dyes and
conditioners).
Aerosols
(hair lacquer, room and body deodorant sprays, paints, painkilling and
insect sprays)
Fuels
(Petrol, lighter fuel, domestic and camping gas cylinders).
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Effects
• The experience is like
being intensely drunk for a short period. Breathing and heart rate are
depressed. Users often feel dizzy, giggly and dreamy and can become aggressive.
Some users can feel nervous, may vomit, hallucinate, experience blackouts,
tiredness and lack of concentration. The effects are short lived.
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Risks
• Abusing gases, aerosols
or glue can cause sudden death, even on the first go. This is because
breathing and heart rate are reduced and compromised
•
Substances sprayed into the mouth may cause fluid to flood the
lungs, and may stimulate the nerve at the back of the throat to cause
the heart to slow to a fatally low level.
•
When sniffing there is a risk of suffocation.
•
Users (when high) are more prone to accidents because their senses
are affected. Accidents can occur in a number of ways. Some abusers become
unconscious and choke when they inhale vomit, others are suffocated when
they place a plastic bag over their heads and become too intoxicated to
remove it or else become unconscious.
• A form of brain inflammation
(encephalopathy) may arise from the lead compounds in leaded petrol. Many
of these compounds are flammable. It is important too keep away from flames
e.g. from firelighters and matches when inhaling. There have been severe
burns caused by explosions and fires resulting from the misuse of butane.
Repeated use of leaded petrol can cause lead poisoning.
• Mixing solvents and
other drugs can be dangerous and may lead to unpredictable effects and
can be life threatening.
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Law
• It is an offence for
any person to sell, offer or make available any substance to persons under
18 which they know or have reasonable cause to believe is likely to be
inhaled for the purpose of causing intoxication.
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