HISTORY:
Nitrite inhalants have been commonly abused substances in the United
States. Nitrite inhalants and AIDS was a popular topic in the early 1980s,
when the cause of AIDS was not known. With the discovery of HIV, concern
about nitrite use in the USA waned. However, nitrite inhalant use is
associated with behavioral relapse and HIV transmission among gay men, with
decreased lymphocyte counts and natural killer cell activity in a few
laboratory studies, and it remains a candidate cofactor in the pathogenesis
of AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma. Discouraging nitrite use continues to be a
worthwhile public health goal.
INFORMATION:
Inhalants are breathable chemical vapors that produce psychoactive
(mind-altering) effects. A variety of products commonplace in the home and in
the workplace contain substances that can be inhaled. Many people do not think
of these products, such as spray paints, glues, and cleaning fluids, as drugs
because they were never meant to be used to achieve an intoxicating effect. Yet,
young children and adolescents can easily obtain them and are among those most
likely to abuse these extremely toxic substances. Parents should monitor
household products closely to prevent accidental inhalation by very young
children. Inhalants fall into the following categories:
Solvents
Industrial or household solvents or solvent-containing products,
including paint thinners or removers, degreasers, dry-cleaning fluids, gasoline,
and glue. Art or office supply solvents, including correction fluids,
felt-tip-marker fluid, and electronic contact cleaners
Gases
Gases used in household or commercial products, including butane
lighters and propane tanks, whipping cream aerosols or dispensers (whippets),
and refrigerant gases. Household aerosol propellants and associated
solvents in items such as spray paints, hair or deodorant sprays, and fabric
protector sprays. Medical anesthetic gases, such as ether,
chloroform, halothane, and nitrous oxide ("laughing gas")
Nitrites
Aliphatic nitrites, including cyclohexyl nitrite, an ingredient
found in room odorizers; amyl nitrite, which is used for medical purposes; and
butyl nitrite (previously used to manufacture perfumes and antifreeze), which is
now an illegal substance.
STREET NAMES:
Air blast, Ames, Amys, Bagging, Boppers, Bullet bolt, buzz bomb,
Glading, Highball, Huff, Huffer, Huffing, Medusa,
Moon gas, Oz, Pearls, Poor man's pot, Poppers, Rush Snappers, Satan's
secret, Shoot the breeze, Snappers, Sniff,
Snorting, Snotballs (Rubber cement rolled into balls, burned and the fumes
are inhaled), Texas shoe shine, Whippets, and Whiteout.
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