Facts on Inhalants

• Typically, first use of inhalants occurs between late childhood and early adolescence. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, there were an estimated 1,125,000 new inhalant users in 2001, up from 86,000 in 1965. In 2002 of those surveyed aged 12 and older, 22,870,000 (9.7% of the population) reported using an inhalant at lease once in their lifetime.
• According to the Monitoring the Future Study, during 2003, 11.2% of 12th graders, 12.7% of 10th graders, and 15.8% of 8th graders have used an inhalant in their lifetime. During this same time period, 1.5% of seniors, 2.2% of 10th, and 4.1% of 8th graders had used inhalants in the past month.
• The Monitoring the Future Study also tracks trends in perceived risk and disapproval of use. In 2002, 8th and 10th graders were asked questions about the degree of risk they associate with inhalant use; 42.8% of 8th graders and 48.7% of 10th graders reported feeling that using inhalants once or twice a week was a "great risk." In addition, 69.9% of 8th graders and 73.4% of 10th graders reported that using inhalants regularly was a great risk.
• In 2002, 86.1% of the 8th graders and 88.6% of 10th graders disapproved of people who try inhalants once or twice. In addition, 90.4% of 8th graders and 91.8% of 10th graders disapproved of taking inhalants regularly.
• Among college students surveyed during 2002, 7.7% reported using inhalants during their lifetime and 0.7% reported using inhalants in the 30 days before being surveyed. Nearly 12.4% of young adults between the ages of 19 and 28 reported using inhalants during their lifetime; 0.5% reported using inhalants in the 30 days before being surveyed.
• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2001 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey (YRBSS), 14.7% of high school students surveyed nationwide had used an inhalant during their lifetime. Female students (14.9%) were equally as likely as male students (14.5%) to report lifetime inhalant use. Students in grade 9 (17.4%) were more likely than students in grades 10, 11, and 12 (14.0%, 13.8%, and 12.5%, respectively) to report lifetime inhalant use. Approximately 4.7% of high school students reported inhalant use within the 30 days preceding the survey.
• In 2001, there were 1,234 admissions to treatment facilities in which inhalants were the primary substance of abuse, accounting for approximately 0.1% of all admissions. Inhalant admissions were primarily male (73%), white (71%), and young (46% under 20 years old). Those admitted to treatment for primary inhalant use began use at an early age-27% used inhalants by age 12, and another 28% used inhalants by age 14.
• According to the 1997 Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) Survey of Inmates in Adult State and Federal Correctional Facilities, 7.7% of Federal prisoners had tried inhalants in their lifetimes, 2.6% reported using inhalants regularly, and 0.5% reported using inhalants in the month before committing their offense. Among State prisoners, 14.4% had tried inhalants in their lifetimes, 5.4% reported using inhalants regularly, and 1% reported using inhalants in the month before committing their offense.
• Although not regulated under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), many State legislatures have attempted to deter youth who buy legal products to get high by placing restrictions on the sale of these products to minors. As reported by the National Conference of State Legislatures, by 2000, 38 States had adopted laws preventing the sale, use, and/or distribution to minors of various products commonly abused as inhalants. Some States have introduced fines, incarceration, or mandatory treatment for the sale, distribution, use, and/or possession of inhalable chemicals.
• Highest usage is in the 12 to 17 age group, with one survey showing usage peaks in 8th grade.
• In 1995, 21.6 percent of 8th-graders said they had tried inhalants. That came down to 15.2 percent in 2002.
• Among 12- to 17-year-olds, highest rates of ever trying inhalants was highest (12.5 percent) in the mountain West and lowest (9.1 percent) in the west-central region of the South.
• Youths who reported using inhalants during the past year was highest (4.1 percent) among Whites and lowest (1.6 percent) among African-Americans.
• The lower their school grades are, the more likely students are to be using inhalants.
• More than 1,000 products have been used as inhalants.
• Volatile solvents. These liquids vaporize at room temperatures and include paint thinners, dry-cleaning fluids, gasoline and glues.
• Aerosols. These contain both propellants and solvents that can be harmful, and include spray paints, hair sprays, vegetable oil sprays for cooking, and fabric protectors.
• Gases. This covers medical anesthetics, such as ether and nitrous oxide, but nitrous oxide also can be found in whipped cream dispensers.
• Nitrites. These act on the central nervous system to dilate blood vessels and relax muscles. They most often are used to enhance sex and include chemicals such as amyl nitrite, commonly called "poppers."