Inhalant Addiction Treatment

Inhalant Addiction Treatment

People will
stretch the limits on almost anything, especially teenagers. That is why inhalant addiction treatment is
to vital to the health and well-being of a young person who makes the decision
that inhaling glue, household cleaning solvents, paint thinner, or any other
noxious chemical for the purpose of getting high is in far more trouble than
they realize. Inhaling a
substance can produce a high very quickly, as the substance is absorbed into
the bloodstream quickly and gets to the brain quickly.

Often people will sniff the chemical, like
taking the top off a perfume bottle to catch a whiff of the fragrance, only it
is an intense inhalation. Believe it or
not, some will inhale gasoline fumes, paint, aerosol sprays, glue, anything
that will produce a high. They can open
the can and inhale, or pour some of the chemical on to a rag and sniff it at
close range.

Looking for a “HIGH”

Young people
will try this because it’s a new experience and they’re looking for a
kick. Older people may use common
household chemicals to get high because they can’t afford anything else. But teens are probably the most likely group
of people to use this, because it’s easily accessible and they’re bored and
want something to do. A friend of mine
is a missionary in Senegal
and reports that young kids on the streets are addicted to sniffing glue.

Inhalants will
produce a short-term intoxication, usually lasting less than an hour and
because of this, the user keeps sniffing to keep the high going. They may experience some of the same general
types of effects, such as euphoria, inhibition, hallucinations. And, like other drugs, the effects might also
include drowsiness, delusions, mental confusion.

Obviously chemicals such as paint, gasoline and floor cleaner
can also cause nausea, vomiting, a runny nose, nosebleeds and cough, and vision
problems. Users who repeatedly sniff
chemicals are at risk of overdose and even death.

Warning signs of addiction

Just like people
who take cocaine or opioids, inhalant users will get bodily warning signs of
trouble. Cardiac problems can arise,
resulting in a heart attack. Respiratory
failure is another possibility. It’s not
uncommon for a person to overdose and die, even the first time they try an
inhalant.

Many chemicals contain extremely dangerous toxins, which are absorbed
in the body and can cause irreparable damage. The symptoms may
be hard to detect. People will become
depressed or anxious, they can also be violent, irritable and experience any
number of ill effects.

The important
thing is to get people into treatment.
Inhalant addicts are more often than not psychologically addicted to the
chemical, not necessarily physically addicted, although that is possible. The physical damage can be irreversible, so
getting them off the substance is important.

Treatment is needed

Inhalant
addiction treatment is important because people who have fallen into that hole
need to learn how to rebuild their lives, live without the substance and be
productive and happy. There are some
options on treatment, but some of the more desirable are in-patient,
residential settings, where counselors can have hands-on, daily contact with
addicts.

For those who do not have the financial resources for
in-patient, there is also hope through therapeutic groups, 12 Step programs and
individual counseling. It is important
for families, especially parents of teenagers, to select a treatment program
that will address the specific issues facing the addict.

An inhalant addict needs something different
from an alcoholic, so treatment has to be tailored to meet those needs.

The sooner they receive inhalant addiction treatment the
better, because as stated inhalants are very toxic and the physical
damage to their brain and body can be permanent and significant. It is also important to know whether or not another
substance is being used, so while a teenager for example may be using
inhalants, he/she may also have had access to other dangerous and illegal
drugs.

Steps to take

If you find out you child is using here are the inhalant
addiction treatment steps to take IMMEDIATELY.

• Call your doctor and have your child get a complete physical and psychological examination informing the
  doctors as to which substances were being abused and inhaled.
• Enroll your child in Teen Challenge
  program or some other adolescent treatment
  program that is inpatient if necessary to stop your child from having
  any access to the inhalant.
• He/she must have NO ACCESS to the abused
  substance and remember addicts are very clever and with find what they
  want by ANY means necessary!
• You
  and your family need to join Al-anon or a program like Celebrate Recovery
  (offered at churches) so that you learn everything you can about addiction
  and recovery. You will work the 12 step program so that you can help your
  child to go through the steps.
• Get
  you child into weekly counseling to help identify and address any psychological
  or emotional issues he/she is struggling with that may have lead to the
  inhalant abuse.

Get the problem
identified and get help!

The important
thing is to get the problem identified and do not be afraid to seek help. Al-Anon is a solid organization and can offer
good advice, counsel and support.
Inhalant addiction treatment can be successful if the addict allows the
process to move forward. Don’t ignore
the signs and expect it to go away, it won’t.

This completes our section on Inhalant Addiction Treatment; visit our homepage for more information.