More Adults Are Abusing Inhalants

We may associate the practice of "huffing" common chemicals such as cleaning products with foolhardy kids, but new research shows that nearly half of the those admitted for treatment for inhalant abuse are over 18 years old. The study—carried out by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)—records that 52% of people seeking care for abusing inhalants are aged 18-29, while 32% are 30-44, and as many as 16% were 45 and older. Inhaling chemicals may be an easy way to get a quick high, but inhaling these vapors can cause permanent lung and brain damage. Abusing inhalants often evolves into a potentially fatal addiction. In the past year, 1.1 million adults huffed chemicals, which means the practice is more popular than using drugs such as crack, LSD, and heroin.