Inhalants, GHB and Steroids

Volatile liquid

a liquid that is easily vaporized

Methods of inhalant administration

inhaled from a saturated rag (huffing), from a container (sniffing/snorting), a bag (bagging), a balloon, or spraying aerosol into nose/mouth (glading/dusting)

Volatile Solvents

liquid at room temperature but fumes can be inhaled. Includes glues, marker ink, spray paint, paint thinners, acetone, moth balls, ethyl chloride, etc.

Fuels

include gasoline, heater fuel, lighter fluid, propellants

Anesthetics

nitric oxide (laughing gas), chlorophorm, and ether

Halogenated hydrocarbons

hydrocarbon molecules with chlorine or fluorine: include refrigerants, solvents, degreasers, adhesives, white out, and compressor propellants

Nitrites

inhalants taken to enhance sexual arousal (amyl and butyl nitrite)

Effects of inhalant intoxicaiton

very similar to that of alcohol:

-euphoria

-stimulation/ disinhibition

-slurred speech/ impaired coordination

-lethargy/ataxia

-hallucinations

At very high doses, can experience hallucinations, depression, suicidal thoughts or risky behavior

Inhalant Withdrawal

-nausea

-fatigue

-insomnia

-anxiety

-irritability

-craving for more inhalants

Reward mechanism of inhalants

stimulate ionotropic DA firing in VTA, increase DA levels in striatum, NAcc, and PFC.

However, high exposure for 7 days ——> decreased DA release

Regions of high inhalant uptake

-striatum

-thalamus

-deep cerebellar nuclei

Inhalant effect on locomotor activity

is biphasic:

increased locomotor activity up to 1,000 ppm, after that becomes increasingly sedating by enhancing GABA and glycine which inhibit excitatory NMDA receptors

Sudden sniffing death syndrome

cardiac arrhythmia leads to death

Toxic Leukoencephalopathy

widespread white matter lesions, myelin degeneration, dementia, nerve damage

Nitric oxide health effects

inactivates vitamin B12—→ anemia, spinal cord damage, psychiatric symptoms

Fetal Solvent syndrome

craniofacial abnormalities similar to those present in FAS, includes severe cognitive deficits on a spectrum

GHB

gamma-hyrdoxybutane, a chemical structurally similar to GABA that is an endogenous byproduct of GABA metabolism. Is taken up by VIATT transporter and packaged into GABA vesicles, can be co-released