Physical, Emotional, Social, and Economic Consequences

Inhalant abusers are at risk of many devastating consequences including death, serious injury, and hurting those around you. Prolonged sniffing of the highly concentrated chemicals in solvents or aerosol sprays can induce irregular and rapid heart rhythms and lead to heart failure and death within minutes of a session of prolonged sniffing.
      This syndrome, known as "sudden sniffing death," can result from a single session of inhalant use by an otherwise healthy young person. Inhalant abuse also can cause death by: 
     -Asphyxiation -- from repeated inhalations, which lead to high concentrations of inhaled fumes displacing the available oxygen in the lungs 
     -Suffocation -- from blocking air from entering the lungs when inhaling fumes from a plastic bag placed over the head
     -Choking -- from inhalation of vomit after inhalant use;

      -Fatal injury -- from accidents, including motor vehicle fatalities, suffered while intoxicated.

     In addtion to these severe consequences, you risk economic consequences including various fines for use of or intent to use inhalants. 

Finally, by abusing inhalants you hurt your relationship with those around you because your friends and family don't want you addicted to the drugs, but also don't want to be around you if you continue to abuse inhalants. Therefore you cause those you love and care about to avoid you and not associate themselves with you.

Legal Consequences

     Although inhalants are not regulated under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), many State legislatures have attempted to deter youth who buy legal products to get high by placing restrictions on the sale of these products to minors. As reported by the National Conference of State Legislatures, by 2000, 38 States had adopted laws preventing the sale, use, and/or distribution to minors of various products commonly abused as inhalants.

     Some States have introduced fines, incarceration, or mandatory treatment for the sale, distribution, use, and/or possession of inhalable chemicals, however inhalants remain a fairly easily-obtained house hold drug when compared to another substance such as marijuana or cocaine.
     

     When it comes to specific fines and jail time, it all depends on the state in which it occurs, the type of inhalant(s) used, the local laws that are in effect against inhalants, and the extent of the abuse that determine the punishment.

     In South Carolina, for example, a first time misdomenor offense can induce fines starting at $25, and a warning to the parents of the minor