Review of Inhalants - ARCHIVES - National Institute on Drug Abuse

problems and sources <strong>of</strong> confusion. Many <strong>of</strong>’ the surveys conducted
have focused on illicit drug abuse or with the addition <strong>of</strong>
alcohol and tobacco use, but have frequently omitted inhalant
abuse or have restricted the questioning specifically to “glue
sniffing.” As we have already indicated, however, glue sniffing
is but one form <strong>of</strong> inhalant abuse, the actual range <strong>of</strong> inhalants
that may be utilized is very large. It includes such diverse
substance:; as spray paints, spray shoe polish, gasoline, paint
thinner, various other industrial solvents and many other products
packed in aerosolized form. Thus, it is by no means certain
that even the individual responding to a questionnaire with every
intent <strong>of</strong> being open will divine the intent <strong>of</strong> the questionnaire
and report his or her inhalant use accurately
There have been informal clinical reports <strong>of</strong> especially high incidence
<strong>of</strong> inhalant abuse among younger minority group members,
school dropouts, truants. and others who may not be adequately
reached by the usual household survey or questionnaire administered
in the school. Thus, national or even more narrowly
focused surveys may omit important abusing groups or underreport
their actual level <strong>of</strong> abuse. Lower class, minority members
are also probably less likely to seek medical attention for adverse
reactions to inhalants or, if they do, their symptoms may not be
connected with inhalant abuse. This may well explain the very
small number <strong>of</strong> mentions <strong>of</strong> inhalants in the DAWN system, which
is a national drug abuse warning network to monitor emergency
rooms, drug abuse crisis centers, and other treatment facilities
that deal with drug-related emergencies,
Despite some limitations, the figures that are available concerning
inhalant abuse do provide some useful information. In the United
States, nationwide drug abuse surveys based on household interviews
with a stratified random sample <strong>of</strong> the population have been
conducted since 1972. Unfortunately, the form in which the
questions regarding inhalants were posed varied in each <strong>of</strong> the
three surveys involved (1972. 1974, and 1975/76) The 1972
survey asked about “glue or other things you breathe in.” In
1974, it talked about “glue or some other inhalant," but by 1975/
76, the questioning was considerably more explicit. It was then
phrased “glue or some other substances that people inhale for
kicks or to get high. Besides glue, there are things like gasoline,
some aerosols, nitrous oxide, amyl nitrite which is also
called 'poppers,' and other solvents.” Among youth from 12-17,
the most recent 1975/76 survey found that slightly less than one
in twelve (8.1 percent) reported having used inhalants with less
than one percent (0.9 percent) reporting current use. Among
those over eighteen, 3.4 percent report ever having used inhalants
and only one-half <strong>of</strong> one percent report current use,
defined as use within the month preceding the survey. When one
looks at the 18-25 group <strong>of</strong> young adults, generally the peak drug
using age group, 9 percent <strong>of</strong> this group report having ever
used with again one half’ <strong>of</strong> one percent reporting current use.
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