Understanding Teenage Inhalant Abuse 

In recent years, more and more adolescents are experimenting with getting high using common household products.Inhalant addiction treatment program In fact, this type of use is so common that pre-teens are abusing inhalants more than marijuana and cigarettes. Inhalants have become the new gateway drug to more severe use. While this drug is easier for teens to access, it does not mean the effects are equally mild. Death from inhaling, known as Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome, can occur even with a teen’s first time sniffing. Because there is little awareness about the popularity or lasting effects of inhalant abuse, it can be difficult for parents to realize that there is a problem.

At Ascend Healthcare, we offer comprehensive inhalant addiction treatment programs that are personalized for your child. Our treatment methods encompass education for your child and the entire family system on how to cope with what might be driving them towards using inhalants. We also focus on giving your family a basic understanding of how drug abuse affects the body. Gain a little bit of insight into inhalant abuse at Ascend Healthcare today.

Causes Of Teenage Inhalant Abuse

Inhalants are incredibly easy for teens and even younger kids to find. Many inhalants are standard products that you could find in most homes. If a teenager is trying to get high, using inhalants removes the barriers of cost and access. There is also limited awareness about the potentially fatal effects of abusing inhalants — even for single time users. Users also report that the high from inhalants is intense but short in duration, which makes kids feel like they could get away with using without anyone noticing.

Some are using inhalants to fit in with their peers, while others see it as a way to escape stress from school or family. It’s critical to find inhalant abuse treatment for teens that understands what drives your child towards drugs and guides them back onto a healthier path. The inhalant addiction treatment programs at Ascend consider every element of your child’s life that could be behind their need to experience the mind-altering effects of chemical vapors.

Types of Inhalants

Many different types of inhalants may result in your child needing to attend an inhalant addiction treatment program including:

  • Hair Spray
  • Room Deodorizer
  • Cooking Spray
  • Correction Fluid
  • Glue
  • Rubber Cement
  • Paint Thinner
  • Cigarette Lighters
  • Gasoline

Because most of these are readily available in the average household, you should prepare yourself for this type of abuse to begin relatively early in a child’s life. The need for inhalant abuse treatment for teens and pre-teens is more common than you think.

Signs & Symptoms To Look For 

The best ways to check for inhalant abuse are through the behavioral and physical signs and symptoms listed below:

  • Empty aerosol containers
  • Items containing noxious fumes missing from the household
  • Rags or plastic bags in their room
  • Strange stains or odors on their clothing
  • Slurred speech
  • Glassy eyes
  • Poor muscle coordination
  • Nausea
  • Stumbling and/or dizziness
  • Mood changes

Inhalant Addiction Treatment Program at Ascend Healthcare 

Your child may be abusing inhalants, but you don’t have to deal with it alone.  Our inhalant addiction treatment programs at Ascend meet your child where they are, analyze and discover any underlying causes for the abuse, and support the entire family system through this difficult journey. Explore your options when you speak to one of our expert team members today at 310.388.3713.