Age
of Onset
- Often
first substance used before marijuana and cocaine. In
fact, inhalant use often appears before onset of tobacco
or alcohol use.
- Experimental
use onset in late childhood & early adolescence, use
patterns are short lived, with cessation in late adolescence
- Chronic
use appears in early & late adolescence
Fast
and Multiple Intoxication
- Users
can get high several times over a short period because
inhalants are short-acting with a rapid onset
- Attractive
to children who don't like delayed gratification
Poor
School Attendance
- Drop-outs
- Absenteeism
- Suspension
- Expulsion
Delinquency
- Particularly
theft and burglary
- Inhalant
users are more disruptive, deviant or delinquent than
other drug users
Ethnic
Membership
- Users
are predominately white
- Minority
involvement is concentrated in American
and Canadian Native American Indians; and,
Low
income Hispanics
Gender
- Experimental
use equally common in males, females
- Chronic
use most common in males
- Morbidity
and mortality more common among chronic male users
- Some
male homosexuals (limited to nitrites)
High
Exposure Occupational Settings
- Adults
in certain high-exposure occupational settings (e.g.,
painters)
High
Exposure Professions
- Adult
medical workers (e.g., anesthesiologist, dentist)
Use
of Multiple Inhalants
- Exposure
to solvent mixtures either in occupational or abuse settings
is far more common than exposure to a single solvent.
Use
of Other Drugs
Multiple
Personal and Social Problems
Poor
Adjustment to Work Environments
Multiproblem
and Disrupted Families
Varied
Socioeconomic Conditions
- Impoverished,
marginal or ghetto situations
- Middle
to Upper Income
Parental
Alcohol/Drug Abuse
Weakened
Parental Influence
- Some
parents do not discourage their child's use of inhalants
- Some
parents have low sanctions against inhalant use by peers
of their children
Poor
School Performance and Adjustment
- Attention
deficit; poor short term memory
- Low
abstraction and judgement scores
- Lower
grades
Lower
Intelligence Scores (verbal
& performance)
Psychopathology
- Users
seeking treatment have high rates of psychopathology,
especially conduct disorders and personality disorders
- More
psychopathology in those who use when they are alone
- Antisocial
personality
- Depressive
disorder
Emotional
Problems
- More
emotional problems than other drug users or non-drug users
(especially anxiety, depression and anger)
Weak
or Negative-Future Orientations
- Users
have dismal or no future orientations;uncertain whether
or not the future is worth waiting for.
Low
Self Esteem
High
Adolescent Rebellion
Strong
Peer Drug Influence
- Peers
have high inhalant and drug use
- Peers
have high deviance behaviors
- Peer
cluster theory
Special
Setting
Acculturation
Stress
Criminal
Justice System Involvement
- More
family members in prison
Source:
"Understanding the Inhalant
User," Texas Commission on
Alcohol and Drug Abuse
