10 Most Common Household Products Used as Inhalants

While it could be destructive to people when uncontrolled, getting high is a popular approach that some people use to reset the mind.

In this article, we compiled a list of commonly abused inhalants.

1. A sharpie high

Permanent markers, commonly called sharpies, contain chemicals that help the ink in them evaporate and dry quickly. When one sniffs on sharpies, the chemicals get to the brain and cause a short-term feeling of euphoria and dizziness.

This product is typical with school going kids and should be discouraged since it has adverse negative effects.

2. Rubber cement

Remember the art and crafts class? You probably used rubber cement a lot in this class.

According to Penn State University, some rubber cement varieties contain Acetone, Heptane, Isopropyl alcohol, Paradichlorobenzene, and Trichloroethane, products that have adverse effects on human health.

The effects of these chemicals on the body can bring about the symptoms associated with being high such as dizziness and a light head. As a result, people seeking a high sometimes inhale the rubber cement for that pleasant feeling.

Take care when using rubber cement around kids in art class by ensuring proper airflow in the classroom to minimize the amount of rubber cement chemicals that they inhale.

3. Keyboard cleaner

An article posted on the Seattle Times talks about American teens using the compacted liquid used to clean computer keyboards to get high. The effects of using the cleaner include being lightheaded for a short while.

Because there are no regulations to limit the sale and use of computer cleaning products, young people can access such harmful products easily and use them to get high.

It is dangerous, however, for anyone to use a keyboard cleaner to get high. In fact, it can easily cause death to a first time user.

3. Correction fluid

A common way of correcting mistakes on printed material is by applying a correction fluid. A report from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel says that the chemicals, trichloroethylene and trichloroethane, present in office correction fluid could cause an ecstatic feeling on the human brain when exposure is prolonged.

Unaware of the negative effects that these chemicals have on their bodies, kids and teenagers inhale correction fluid to get the short-lived high that it causes.

4. Deodorant spray

We all love the fresh-smelling effect of applying deodorant when we are going out to meet friends. Instead of using deodorants to smell great, teens in some regions of the world have invented a way to get high from sniffing deodorant sprays.

Some reports, like this one on the Medical express, however, reveal that such habits are dangerous and could even result in loss of life.

Adults should put effort into educating kids and teenagers about the correct usage of a deodorant spray. They should also discourage the kids from experimenting with such dangerous chemicals.

5. Hairspray

The hairspray found in most bathrooms contains chemicals such as butane, propane, and fluorocarbons, as indicated on Caring For Kids. Such compounds give you the euphoric feeling of a high in addition to having other effects on the body.

Curious kids and teens often inhale hair spray while unaware of the harmful effects that the contents of the hair spray can have on their bodies.

To prevent such an occurrence, you are advised to keep your hair spray in a locked cabinet and out of reach of children. Moreover, hold a conversation with your teenage kids and explain to them why they need to avoid experimenting with products that contain chemicals.

6. High from shoe polish

To keep leather shoes looking sharp, we mostly use shoe polish or a shoe polish spray on them. This common household product, however, is made of a mix of natural and artificial chemicals that could cause a slight high on a person when inhaled.

Besides causing a high, inhaling the contents of shoe polish is harmful to health.

It would be best if you took care when using shoe polish and shoe creams to avoid inhaling the fumes from these products. Moreover, be sure to store the shoe polish in a tightly closed container and keep it out of reach of children and animals.

7. Gasoline

Ordinary gasoline used to fuel vehicles, motorcycles, and other machines commonly used in our homes contains propane and other chemicals. Some people find the smell of fuel containing these chemicals rather pleasant. In fact, gasoline has been used as a drug for years, especially among the poor people.

Alcohol Rehab lists the effects of inhaling gasoline to include euphoria, numbness, disorientation, hallucinations, slurred speech, lack of coordination, and slowed reflexes.

Negative effects of prolonged inhalation of gasoline include respiratory problems, permanent brain damage, depressed immune system, blood abnormalities, heart damage, liver and kidney damage, chronic headaches, chronic fatigue, nose bleeding, and an irregular heartbeat.

8. Kerosene

When going camping, one of the must-have items is a camping stove. Although the kerosene used to fuel the camping stove might seem harmless, some people often inhale it to get high. While the propane levels in kerosene are much less when compared to those in gasoline, their effects are almost similar.

The kerosene stove further poses the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning when the fumes from incomplete combustion of the fuel are inhaled. This is hazardous, and prolonged exposure can lead to death.

9. Fire Extinguisher gas

Fire extinguishers contain a mixture of chemicals and products that, when inhaled, can cause a high and mild dizziness.

An article from kolotv.com news website describes a scenario where a group of soldiers siphoned halon gas from a fire extinguisher in an aim to get high and ended up dead.

From the article, you should see the importance of using products for what they are intended for and disregard misusing items for recreation purposes.

10. Cooking spray

Young people have formulated a way to get high from the common cooking spray that people use in their kitchens.

By spraying the cooking spray on a piece of cloth and sniffing on the cloth, the kids inhale the aerosols that propel the cooking spray from its container. These aerosols are known to produce a calming effect when ingested.

Adults should always keep such products out of reach of children and ensure that they are used only for the right purposes.

Now You Know the Most Common Products Used as Inhalants

Did you find the article on products used as inhalants an enjoyable read? You might also want to read up on inhalant laws by state.

We would like to hear your views in the comment section. Kindly share this article with a friend or relative to educate them about the products used as inhalants.

We urge you to keep your kids safe from all products that could expose them to irreversible health problems. Seeing that commonly abused inhalants are the products we use at home, there is a need to be extra careful regarding how we store such products after using them.