Review of Inhalants - ARCHIVES - National Institute on Drug Abuse

Chapter 11
NERVOUS SYSTEM DAMAGE FROM
MIXED ORGANIC SOLVENTS
Leon Prockop and Daniel Couri
INTRODUCTION
General Comments
Epidemic inhalation <strong>of</strong> the vapors <strong>of</strong> intoxicating hydrocarbons has
been known only during the past quarter century. In a 1973
review, Cohen stated that the use <strong>of</strong> commercial solvents as a
means <strong>of</strong> achieving an intoxicated state probably started in California
during the late 1950’s. Since then, inhalant abuse has
been quite widespread. For example, in an upper middle class
high school in California, 7 percent <strong>of</strong> the boys and 2.5 percent
<strong>of</strong> the girls have sniffed intoxicants. Other data derived from
high schools throughout the country are similar. A 1975 study
(Abelson and Atkinson) reported data on inhalant abuse gathered
by means <strong>of</strong> a nationwide probability sample designed to reach two
parts <strong>of</strong> the United States population: adults over 18 and youths
ages 12-17. Of the adults, 2.8 percent reported use <strong>of</strong> glue or
other inhalants on one or more occasions. In the youth experience,
8.5 percent were involved.
A wide variety <strong>of</strong> products are employed, including glues and
cements, gasoline, cleaning solutions, lighter fluid, and paint and
lacquer thinner (H<strong>of</strong>mann and H<strong>of</strong>mann, 1975). All <strong>of</strong> the products
contain one or more organic substances that have a generalized
depressant effect on the central nervous system (CNS)
similar to that <strong>of</strong> volatile general anesthetic agents. Other effects
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