Brief Description
Many products readily found in the home or workplace—such as spray paints, markers, glues, and cleaning fluids—contain volatile substances that have psychoactive (mind-altering) properties when inhaled. People do not typically think of these products as drugs because they were never intended for that purpose. However, these products are sometimes abused in that way. They are especially (but not exclusively) abused by young children and adolescents, and are the only class of substance abused more by younger than by older teens. Learn more
Statistics and Trends
| Drug |
Time Period |
8th- Graders |
10th- Graders |
12th- Graders |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inhalants | Lifetime | 11.8 | 9.9 | 7.9 |
| Past Year | 6.2 | 4.1 | 2.9 | |
| Past Month | [2.7] | 1.4 | 0.9 |
* Data in brackets indicate statistically significant change from the previous year.
| Drug |
Time Period |
Ages 12 or Older |
Ages 12-17 |
Ages 18-25 |
Ages 26 or Older |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inhalants | Lifetime | [8.0] | [7.5] | [9.1] | 7.8 |
| Past Year | 0.7 | 3.3 | 1.5 | 0.3 | |
| Past Month | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.1 |
* Data in brackets indicate statistically significant change from the previous year.
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Emerging Trends
Get more information on Emerging Trends, we will update this page with the latest research findings as they develop.
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Other Articles of Interest
Research Report
Inhalant Abuse
Provides scientific research on the nature and extent of inhalant abuse, its potential health consequences, and hazards of chemicals found in commonly abused inhalants.
Featured Publication
Drugs, Brains, and Behavior - The Science of Addiction
As a result of scientific research, we know that addiction is a disease that affects both brain and behavior.
