Sniff substance
Inhalants (Engl. Inhalant ) is a collective term for various legally available substances that when inhaled ( sniffing a) hallucinogenic can make a difference. That is why they are mostly used by young people as a substitute for illegal drugs .
In particular, those common household substances are called snuff substances that contain solvents (mostly oxygen-containing or halogenated hydrocarbons ) and can develop a similar intoxicating effect as illegal drugs. These can be aerosols , adhesives , dilutions or the like. Also nitrous oxide and poppers are called inhalants.
Vapors of other volatile substances can also be sniffed. Examples of this are gasoline and alcohol or spirit.
The effects usually set in very quickly and can last from a few minutes to several hours.
There is a high risk of long-term damage, especially damage to the central nervous system , liver , lungs , hearing and balance, and circulatory disorders.
literature
- Helmut Ahrens, Holger Altenkirch: Sniffing substances. Problems and risks associated with the misuse of solvent-based industrial products . Neuland-VG, Hamburg 1986, ISBN 3-87581-066-X .
- Heinrich Elsner, Marlies Hendriks, Elke Sodenkamp: Sniffing substances . Addiction prevention Krisenhilfe Bochum eV, 2003 (brochure).