The Different Steps of Treatment

* Detoxification

* Medical and neurological screening

* Neurocognitive assessments

* Neurocognitive rehabilitation for those who are impaired

* Academic program to ensure participation in school

* Occupational and physical therapy where indicated

* Restrict or eliminate access to inhalable substances

Treatment

Relapse and treatment failure rates are high among inhalant abusers. The National Inhalant Prevention Coalition helps callers find centers that treat inhalant abuse.

When long-term abusers attempt to quit, they may develop withdrawal symptoms several hours to a few days afterward. Comon withdrawal symptoms are : hand tremors, excessive sweating, constant headache, rapid pulse, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, physical agitation, anxiety, hallucinations, and seizures.

Long-term treatment, as long as two years, has yielded the best results for inhalant abusers. Care must continue outside the facility, and into the community, to be effective.

Inhalant Treatment

Treatment of inhalant abuse and dependence involves counseling, strict abstinence by the abuser, and other drug dependency protocols, 12-step programs, support groups, inpatient and outpatient dependency treatment.

Tolerance to inhalants can develop with frequent use. When withdrawal occurs, it should be supported in a controlled setting, if possible.

Help With Treatment

* www.drugabuse.gov
NIDA's Web site is loaded with information about drug abuse. And there's a special section just for students.

* www.inhalants.org
March 16-22 is National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week. The National Inhalant Prevention Coalition's site offers comprehensive facts and resources.

Treatment Centers

The first step of detox is drug withdrawal. Drug withdrawal is "the act or process of ceasing to use an addictive drug." Once an individual has discontinued using drugs physical and behavioral withdrawal symptoms may follow.

A quality detox program will not only to provide the individual with counseling during detox but help with the physical withdrawal and the psychological root cause of the individual's addiction problem, so as to decrease the chances of relapse.

Drug detox can be viewed in three separate stages:

1. Medical Detox: A medical doctor will need to supervise your medical withdrawal from drugs, ensuring you complete this phase safely and with minimal complications.

2. Physical Detox: Once your body is no longer dependent on drugs, you will need to work on building up your physical health.

3. Emotional Detox: Detox can be extremely difficult on your emotional health. Most treatment centers offer counseling during detox.