The Dangers of Inhalant Abuse

Via: Pageland Progressive Journal 

Chesterfield County, Virginia: Sharon Sweatt, member of the Chesterfield County Coordinating Council, warns of the dangers of inhalant abuse including but not limited to permanent brain, heart, blood, kidney, or liver damage, seizures, heart attacks, and even death.

Huffing Refrigerant Can Freeze Lungs, Cause Brain Damage

via KING 5 in Washington

A shocking new trend has emerged among teens: huffing refrigerant, the gas found in air conditioning systems. Refrigerant causes a quick high similar to alcohol intoxication. Gail Henry says it’s not worth it – her 18-year-old son was found dead after huffing refrigerant. Huffing the gas can make your lungs freeze, cause frostbite to your airway, a loss of consciousness, sudden cardiac death, and brain damage.

Some air conditioning service businesses report customers call believing they have a refrigerant leak only to find out someone has been siphoning off the gas.

Doctor: Inhalant Abuse Worst for Brain Functioning

We all know inhalant abuse is bad. However,this doctor has scanned over 55,000 brains and says inhalant abuse damages the brain function worse than any other drug. Using a SPECT scan, he noticed decreased blood flood to the brain which inhibits one's ability to process. The SPECT scan produces a 3-D image of organs to examine how they function.

Specifically, he references a brain scan from a 17 year old inhalant abuser who had used inhalants for 8 months. Admitted for hallucination, the scans revealed decreased blood to several areas in his brain.