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ConditionsINH

Inhalant Use Disorder

Glues, solvents, nitrous oxide, and other volatile substances inhaled to get high.

What to know. Often serious — direct neurological harm with sustained use.

Become a patient Take inhalants self-assessment
First-line care
Stopping use; supportive care for neurological symptoms

What major medical bodies recommend first when this condition is the focus of care.

Off-label medications can be used in addition to behavioral therapy.

Symptoms

How clinicians think about it.

The DSM-5 lists eleven signs grouped into four areas. The number that fit in the past year suggests a severity — not a verdict.

LOSS OF CONTROL · 4
  • ·Using more than meant to
  • ·Wanting to cut down
  • ·Time spent using
  • ·Cravings
SOCIAL IMPACT · 3
  • ·Trouble at work / school
  • ·Relationship strain
  • ·Giving up activities
RISKY USE · 2
  • ·Risky situations
  • ·Using despite harm
PHYSICAL · 2
  • ·Tolerance
  • ·Withdrawal
Risks worth knowing

Plainly: what makes this condition dangerous.

High concern

Sudden sniffing death — cardiac arrest

High concern

Permanent nerve and brain damage

Moderate concern

Vitamin B12 depletion from nitrous oxide

Treatment options

What's offered, and what we usually start with.

FIRST-LINE — RECOMMENDED FIRST
01
Behavioral treatment and harm reductionFirst-line

Highest priority is stopping use and treating any neurological injury.

02
Nutritional repletion

B12 and other supplementation when nitrous oxide is involved.

Common questions

Asked often, answered briefly.

Occasional use carries less risk than heavy use, but nitrous depletes B12 and can cause nerve damage faster than people expect. Worth talking through.

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This is not a diagnosis. These tools are for reflection and conversation. A clinician's evaluation is the only way to confirm a substance use disorder. If you are in crisis, call or text 988.
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