• Drugs Info  
  • Type of drugs
  • About drugs
    • Drug use factors
    • Drugs and mental health
    • Drugs and sport
    • Drugs and pregnancy
    • Drugs and the law
    • How long do drugs stay in your system?
    • The nature and states of drug use
    • What are the most commonly used drugs
    • What they are and where they come from
  • Legal and Illegal Highs
  • For parents / carers
    • Don't Lose The Head
    • Effects on the family
    • Why some young people take drugs and others don't
    • How can I prevent my child from becoming involved with drugs?
    • Prevention
    • How can I tell if my child is using drugs?
    • Signs and symptoms
    • I am worried that my teenager might be using drugs
    • What should I do if I find out that my child is using cannabis
    • Intervention
  • For teens
    • Cannabis
    • Know the score
    • The teen brain
    • Worried about someone
  • Getting help
• Alcohol Info  
  • About alcohol
    • The effects of alcohol
    • What is a standard drink? What is a binge?
    • Alcohol and pregnancy
    • Alcohol and the law
    • Can you diet and drink?
  • Alcohol and young people
    • What are the effects?
    • What are the signs?
    • What can you do
    • Why young people drink
  • Facts and myths
  • Problem drinking
    • Worried about someone else's drinking
    • Worried about a parent?
  • Tips for drinking less
  • Where to get help
• Services  
• Features  
• Resources  
  • Multimedia
    • Audio / podcasts
    • Video
  • Links
  • Publications
    • Guides and support booklets
    • National strategy documents and reports
    • Global reports
  • Research
  • Statistics
    • Prevalence - Ireland
    • Prevalence - Europe

Solvents Category: Solvents

(such as: gases, glue, correction fluids and thinners, petroleum products, aerosols including hairspray, deodorants and air-fresheners)

How it’s used

You can sniff them directly, put on to a rag or sleeve and inhale. You inhale glues from inside a plastic bag.

Short-term effects

• Effects last up to 45 minutes
• You feel more drunk the deeper you inhale
• Your breathing and heart rate slow down
• Loss of coordination and disorientation
• You may lose consciousness and not see properly
• Can cause a red rash around the mouth
• Nausea, vomiting and blackouts
• Your airways may swell up and lead to breathing and heart problems
• They can kill you the first time you use them

Long-term effects

• You risk brain, liver and kidney damage
• You may have stomach pain, nausea, vomiting

Other dangers

• You are at risk of accidents while drunk

If you are pregnant

Do not use if you are pregnant as we don’t know enough about the risks to your baby

Addictive

You can get psychologically addicted so you feel you can’t cope without it. You can build tolerance so you need to take more to get the same buzz.

What help is available?

• Self-help support such as Narcotics Anonymous
• Counselling or psychotherapy
• Complementary therapies, such as acupuncture
• Support from your doctor
• Residential treatment programmes (clinics)
• Aftercare
• One to one or group family support
• Contact the Drugs Helpline 1800 459 459 to find out about options in your area

Share this: