Ways to Tell If You or Someone You Love Is Possibly Abusing Inhalants

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It can be hard to tell when a person is abusing inhalants. The signs might be very small. You might only notice the debris they leave behind or you may notice changes in their appearance or behavior. It may take being a detective and tracking down the real reason for changes.

Signs to watch for:

• Finding a stash of potential inhalants in an unusual place
• Missing products that can be used for inhaling
• Empty containers (often under a bed) of inhalant-type products
• Changes in behavior
• Poor appetite
• Apathy
• Depression
• Drop in grades
• Poor hygiene or grooming
• Weight loss
• Sores on face, in mouth or in nose
• Eczema on face
• Confusion
• Poor concentration
• Paranoia
• Hostility
• Irritability
• Traces of paint on a person’s face or body
• Rags, cloth or bags with a chemical smell
• Chemical smells on a person’s body or coming from the mouth
• Eye irritation

Inhalant use does not show up in usual drug tests, so other detection means must be used if inhalant abuse is suspected. Blood tests can show elevated liver enzymes after inhalant use. Some chemicals will show up in urine after chronic use.

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What if your Child or Loved One is Already Abusing Inhalants?

You can take additional steps to help determine if the individual is possibly suffering damage from inhalants or other drug abuse by checking these points.

Has he or she:

• Accused you of not trusting him when you ask about inhalant or other drug abuse?
• Turned the guilt on you when you asked questions?
• Been secretive and intensely isolated?
• Become pale and unhealthy looking?
• Showed signs of poor perceptions, such as sight, smell or hearing?
• Been arrested for drug possession?
• Been found repeatedly with products that can be used as inhalants?
• Suffered sores on face, or repeated nosebleeds?
• Given up on activities that used to interest him (or her)?
• Had his grades go down dramatically?
• Been hard to wake, fainted, or had a seizure?
• Lost his appetite and lost weight?
• Smelled of chemicals?
• Showed many of the signs of abusing inhalants but denies everything?

This is only a very brief test. But if these signs are present, it could be that inhalant or other drug abuse is going on and it is very possibly beyond the person’s control. If the person resists your help and does not seem to be able to stop abusing these substances, then he needs rehabilitation to be able to create a productive, enjoyable life once again.

A person who is addicted to inhalants may suffer from withdrawal symptoms if the abuse was heavy enough and went on long enough. These symptoms can include sweating, nausea, tremors, muscle cramps, headaches and chills. In severe cases, the person may also suffer from psychosis, hallucinations and delirium tremens which would require close medical supervision during the withdrawal period.

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Call us at 1-800-737-5250 to get help now. or learn more about the Narconon Drug Rehabilitation Program

When a Person Needs Help

At some time or another, nearly every family will have to deal with the addiction of one of their members. It could be an uncle that seems half-drunk at every family celebration, someone who lost everything to prescription opiate addiction or a loved one who has been using heroin. It is important to know how to find this person a lasting solution.

The kinds of changes that must occur to recover from addiction include:

• A person must find relief from the incessant, intense cravings that make sobriety difficult or lead to repeated relapses.
• He (or she) must overcome the depression that accompanies addiction.
• He must gain more self-control and recover his clear perception of his world.
• He must also find relief from the guilt that results from addiction.
• He must regain a sense of morals and personal responsibility.
• He must learn the life skills that make it possible to maintain a sober path toward success after he returns to his usual life.

The Narconon program not only can address the debilitating effects of drug abuse on the mind and body, but also works to address why a person turned to drugs in the first place. As a result, an individual can graduate from the program into a new life free from drug use.

You can locate a Narconon drug rehab program here: Narconon Locations