Inhalants

The following points for consideration on the portrayal of inhalant use and addiction were created as a resource for entertainment development and production. They are not intended to limit the creative process.

Inhalant Abuse:

Unless a character's inhalant abuse truly reveals something important about the character, consider other unique behaviors that might convey the same information. Avoid using inhalant abuse as glamorous or socially acceptable, or normal behavior. Also, try to show abuse with the negative consequences that might accompany such use.

When making creative decisions about the behavior of a character, bear in mind that young people might view inhalant abuse in entertainment as a kind of role modeling. Will others, especially young people, want to emulate the behavior of your character?

Consider the manner of portrayal and the probable audience for your production, as well as the potential that graphic portrayal of use and related paraphernalia can inadvertently serve as instructional for young people, if they are your primary audience.

Legal products that can be abused as an inhalant are frequently items that can be easily found by young people in the average household, tool shed, garage, or school (see Fact Sheet). Unless there is a specific point related to inhalant abuse, try to avoid having characters in household, school, workplace, farm, retail, or other settings leaving potentially inhalable products where they can be found and possibly abused by children.

Bear in mind that inhalant abuse can suppress hunger, and many abusers suffer from severe and unhealthy weight loss. While it is important from the standpoint of realism to show this consequence where appropriate, try not to do so in a way that suggests that there is a benefit to abusing household products or other inhalants as a means of dieting.

While it was once believed that the majority of inhalant abuse was limited to low socioeconomic groups of Hispanic decent, this is a misconception that should not be perpetuated. Consider your creative choices carefully to reflect the reality that inhalant abuse cuts across all ethnic and socioeconomic lines.

Because inhalants are contained in common household products, keep in mind that there is a great deal of denial and lack of awareness concerning availability and ready access by young people.

Particularly in Texas and other border states, gang-related graffiti often denotes inhalant abuse of various types. Since different chemicals affect the mind and body in different ways, certain groups of people abuse particular kinds of products to achieve particular kinds of highs.

Inhalant abuse may serve as an introduction to a lifestyle for young children who eventually turn to other drugs. Consider the age of your characters when choosing to involve them in inhalant abuse.

Inhalant abuse-prevention billboards can be used as a location set piece.

The use of educational posters in scenes can send a subtle inhalant-prevention message in such places as police stations, hospitals, and schools. (For more information on educational posters or additional materials, please call the Entertainment Industries Council, Inc., 800-783-3421.)

A number of warning signs can be used in combination as indicators that a character might be an inhalant abuser, including:

1. Persistent drunken appearance, slurred speech, and bloodshot eyes, without the accompanying smell of alcohol.

2. Chemical smell on breath, skin, and clothing.

3. Severe and sudden weight loss.

4. Rashes or sores around the mouth or nose caused by the harsh chemicals in abused products.

5. Flu-like symptoms such as headaches, nausea, runny nose, coughing, or loss of consciousness.

6. Lack of attention or the ability to concentrate, difficulty in staying awake, or decline in school or job performance.

7. Appearance of a stash of inhalant products in the bathroom or bedroom, soda cans that contain something other than soda, plastic bags, rags, and old socks that smell of chemicals.

Health Consequences

Where possible, try to portray the health and social consequences of inhalant abuse:

Hearing loss: toluene (paint sprays, glues, dewaxers) and trichloroethylene (cleaning fluids, correction fluids).

Peripheral neuropathies or limb spasms: hexane (glues, gasoline) and nitrous oxide (whipping cream, gas cylinders).

Central nervous system or brain damage: toluene (paint sprays, glues, dewaxers).

Bone marrow damage: benzene (gasoline).

Liver and kidney damage: toluene-containing substances and chlorinated hydrocarbons (correction fluids, dry cleaning fluids).

Blood oxygen depletion: organic nitrates (poppers, bold, and rush) and methylene chloride (varnish removers, paint thinners).

Any and all inhalants, if inhaled for the purposes of getting high, can cause death by suffocation, cardiac arrest, or accident, even from first-time use.