Solvents

AKA

Glue, aerosols, thinners, gases, glue sniffing, gas, sniffing

Solvents factoid In the late 1800s there was a craze for sniffing laughing gas (nitrous oxide) and ether among gentlemen and ladies of high rank.
(Drugscope)

What is it?

Solvents are usually household chemicals that give off fumes. They are things like glue, hairspray, gas refills for lighters, paints, thinners and correcting fluids.

The fumes are inhaled, often from a plastic bag.

How does it make you feel?

Sniffing dulls your senses and makes you feel woozy and perhaps a bit giggly. The effects only last 15-40 minutes. When they wear off it is quite common to feel sick and headachey.

If you keep going on glue for a long time, then you can start to feel very unreal and will probably throw up quite a lot.

What are the health effects?

Sniffing solvents from a bag is likely to give you a rash around your mouth and it can damage the lining of your nose and airways.

Accidents are much more likely if you are out of it on solvents.

Solvents are really quite poisonous. If you use regularly, these chemicals will damage your brain, liver and kidneys.

Never spray solvents directly down your throat. This could kill you or leave you very sick indeed.

The law

It is illegal for shopkeepers to sell butane gas lighter refills to anyone under the age of 18.

It is illegal for shopkeepers to sell other solvents to under 18s if they suspect that they are for sniffing.

Written by Kate Roach

Last updated July 2007

Further help and advice

TheSite.org entry on solvents
Drugscope entry on solvents

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