Inhalants
Solvent abuse is defined as a "deliberate inhalation of an easily vaporized organic substance to achieve a distortion of consciousness" (Steffle 1996). Any product containing a volatile substance can be used; those containing large portions are preferred. There are hundreds of chemicals, sold in thousands of products. The one thing they all have in common is that they all replace oxygen in the brain. Inhalants are classified into three categories (solvents and gases, anesthetics and nitrites); they have horrible short and long term effects on the user and are potentially deadly. Most users are young males. People have inhaled drugs throughout recorded history. In ancient times, people in Greece would sit over fires burning laurel leaves and inhale the smoke. In Biblical Palestine and ancient Egypt, ointments and perfumes were inhaled freely to enhance religious worship. People in the Mediterranean, 2,500 years ago, and hundreds of years ago in Africa, marijuana leaves and flowers were thrown into fires and the smoke was then inhaled (Glowa 1986). In 1776, nitrous oxide (N2O) was discovered by Sir Joseph Priestly and synthesized later that year by Sir Humphry Davy. In 1799, Davy observed the drug's ability
4. Drunken or dazed appearance lasting less than an hour. 3. Constant sniffles, without other cold symptoms. The signs (or symptoms) of inhalant abuse may include: As more volatile substances were produced, people realized that inhaling these agents produced behavioral effects. In the late 1940's, one of the earliest accounts of solvent abuse was an outbreak of gasoline sniffing on the east coast of the United States. In 1831, chloroform was discovered simultaneously in the United States and in Germany. Within that same year, the first accounts of chloroform abuse were reported in the U.S. In Scotland, 1847, Dr James Y. Simpson introduced chloroform usage as an anesthetic in surgery and childbirth (Glowa 1986). Steffee, C. (September 1996). A whiff of death: Fatal volatile solvent inhalation abuse. to reduce pain and suggested it be used during surgery. It was tested forty-five years later. Dentist Horace Wells was the first person in the United States to use nitrous oxide in surgery. He later died from complications from his own inhalant abuse (Glowa 1986).
Some common words found in the essay are:
Dentists N2O, Britain Afterwards, Enforcement Administration, Inhalants Solvent, James Simpson, People Mediterranean, Dentist Horace, Humphry Davy, Biblical Palestine, Stapleton April, glowa 1986, inhalant abuse, plastic bag, solvent abuse, stapleton 2000, solvents gases, nitrous oxide, effects include, nose mouth, ages 12-16, solvents gases abused, repeated lengthy period, nitrous oxide n2o, symptoms inhalant abuse,
Approximate Word count = 2284
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)
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