Sniffing Glue: Dangers, Effects, and How to Get Help

About Sniffing Glue

Sniffing glue – well, it sounds pretty harmless. So, why are we discussing it in this blog? What is sniffing glue, exactly? These are some things one might be wondering at this point. Well, sniffing glue is a kind of inhalant abuse. It is a cheap way of getting high and can lead to dangerous effects.

To make things more complicated, sniffing glue is prevalent among middle and high school students as it is an inexpensive albeit effective way of getting high. This is highly dangerous, as it can easily turn into abuse and affect different areas of an adolescent’s life.

How Glue Sniffing Affects the Brain and Body?

Glue sniffing is not taken very seriously, however, it can cause considerable damage to the brain and body. As it is more prevalent among younger teens whose brain and body are still developing, these damages can be quite significant.

Sniffing glue leads to:

• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Impaired coordination
• Headaches
• Low blood pressure
• Breathing difficulties
• Lowered inhibitions
• Feelings of invincibility
• Psychotic symptoms like hallucinations

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Short-Term and Long-Term Effects of Glue Sniffing

Glue sniffing leads to a high or euphoria, which refers to a rush of pleasurable feelings. However, it can give rise to unwanted effects, both short-term and long-term.

Some of its unwanted short-term effects include:

• Headaches
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting
• Impairment of coordination
• Tingling sensation in the limbs
• Mood swings
• Apathy
• Difficulties in interpersonal life
• Fainting

In the long-term, some of the effects include:

• Injuries, as a consequence of impaired judgment
• Choking on vomit
• Liver and kidney damage
• Seizures

Dangers and Health Risks of Glue Sniffing

Glue sniffing can turn life-threatening. While not exactly lethal, it needs to be paid immediate attention, as it can lead to many dangerous health complications. Some of those are as follows:

• Acute respiratory failure, which can lead to lung damage. In extreme cases, leads to coma
• Hearing loss
• Weakened immune system
• Kidney damage
• Brain damage, which can lead to conditions like multiple sclerosis
• Irregular heart rhythm or arrhythmia
• Sudden death, which is a result of heart failure as a consequence of sniffing glue

Types of Inhalants

While glue sniffing is one of the common ways to get high, it is not the only way for younger teens to get high. Some of the common, household items that are used by adolescents to get high and can be equally dangerous are:

• Shoe polish
• Markers
• Nail polish remover
• Paint thinner
• Gasoline
• Aerosol sprays
• Cleaners

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What Are The Methods of Inhalant Abuse?

Some common methods of inhalant abuse are as follows:

• Sniff – With glue sniffing, the common way is to sniff it from the container itself. This goes for other kinds of inhalants as well.
• Spray – If inhalants are available in a container with spray, then they are sprayed directly into the nose.
• Inhale – An inhalant is either released, sprayed, or even transferred into a bag or balloon, and then inhaled.
• Huff – It involves soaking a rag in the inhalant and then it is held to the nose or stuffed in the mouth.

Signs and Symptoms of Glue Sniffing

Sniffing glue has many evident signs and symptoms, which can be paid attention to:

• Chemical stench on the breath and clothes
• Stains on clothes, of points and oils
• Glue sniffer’s rash, which refers to rash around the mouth
• Messy appearance
• Truancy
• Poor academic performance
• Slurred speech
• Restlessness

In case these signs and symptoms are noticed among adolescents, then it is an indication that they need professional help and treatment.

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Treatment Options for Glue Sniffing

Sniffing glue is like other substance use disorders, with a great potential for addiction. It requires holistic treatment and some of the treatment options are as follows:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – It involves identifying the maladaptive thinking, emotional, and behavioral patterns pertaining to glue sniffing, and reshaping them. Children are also equipped with healthy coping skills to handle cravings, stress, and other factors in life that can lead to glue sniffing and other forms of inhalant abuse.

Family Therapy – Involving family in treatment is beneficial, as it helps in educating families regarding glue sniffing or other kinds of inhalant abuse. Family therapy, specifically, helps change any unhealthy dynamics and communication patterns and helps build stronger relationships.

Ongoing Care – Telemedicine and informal peer groups like 12-step recovery programs can provide safe spaces for people to share their experiences and find encouragement for recovery and long-term sobriety.

When it comes to glue sniffing and other forms of inhalant abuse, while there are treatment options available, prevention is always better than cure. As it is prevalent among younger teenagers given that nearly 20% middle school and high school students engage in some sort of inhalant abuse, parents and guardians can take the following steps to prevent the same:

• Discuss the household items that have a potential for abuse.
• Educate the child that the inhalants are dangerous chemicals.
• Inform the child regarding the side effects and dangers of sniffing glue and other inhalants.