Huffing - Solvent Abuse

09/02/2009

Solvent Abuse

Alarmingly, very few rehabs accept solvent abusers, even more alarming is the vast extent of this problem. Many addicts begin as children with solvents as they are so accessible. Here are some useful facts which may help you to prevent serious problems in your own homes with your own children:

Inhalants include chemicals found in such household products as aerosol sprays, cleaning fluids, glue, paint, paint thinner, nail polish remover, amyl nitrate and lighter gas. They are sniffed or "huffed" (act of inhaling vapours).

Inhalants affect the brain. When substances or fumes are inhaled through the nose or mouth, they can cause irreversible physical and mental damage. They starve the body of oxygen and force the heart to beat irregularly and more rapidly. People who use inhalants can lose their sense of smell, suffer nausea and nosebleeds and may develop liver, lung and kidney problems. Chronic use can lead to reduced muscle mass, tone and strength. Inhalants can make people unable to walk, talk and think normally. Much of the damage is caused to the brain tissue when the toxic fumes are sniffed straight into the sinus.

SHORT - TERM EFFECTS:

In addition to the above, inhalants can kill a person by heart attack or suffocation as the inhaled fumes take the place of oxygen in the lungs and central nervous system. Someone on inhalants may also suddenly react with extreme violence.

LONG - TERM EFFECTS:

Can lead to muscle wasting and reduced muscle tone and strength. Can permanently damage the body and brain.

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About Interventions

Families have been trying to help the ones they love for as long as their loved ones have been destroying themselves. In the past 50 years or so the term "intervention" became associated with specific methods for getting an unwilling addict or alcoholic to accept help.

The term, "intervention" simply refers to a set of steps designed to motivate an unwilling addict to make his own, personal choice to enter treatment, without direct force or humiliation. To many it represents a certain formula, but after 300 or so interventions I have found that one of the most important factors in succeeding is creativity, and not trying to fit your situation into what works for someone else. Lessons are learned but their application must be custom.

Any definition of the word, "intervention," belies the difficulty in achieving it.

Modern day intervention specialists orient interventions around the love of the family, attempting to reach the part of the addict that wants to get better (even though the person may not openly admit having a problem). At the same time, they shut down resources so that the person is left with only one way out - to go to treatment.

Success ultimately comes from meticulous planning, teamwork at all times, rational (non-emotional) improvisation, patience and of course, perseverance. The only interventions which ever really fail are the ones which have been abandoned.
 

For hepl with overcoming addiction go to:

www.drugaddictiontreatment.ca

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