Understanding Substance Use
Health is a state of total well-being—physical, mental and social—helping us both survive and thrive in our everyday lives.
Learn About Inhalants
People inhale solvents for a variety of reasons. Some experiment with inhalants once or twice to see what the experience feels like. Others use inhalants for the same reasons many of us use alcohol—to help us relax, socialize, open up to friends about emotional matters, or escape from things we don’t like in our lives. Since solvents are more affordable than alcohol or other drugs, limited access to money is a factor in why people may choose inhalants over other substances. But like other mind-altering substances, inhalants can be harmful.
The Language We Use to Talk About Mental Health and Substance Use
Words matter. They impact the assumptions we make about others, the way we understand someone else’s experiences, and the value we place on others.
Inhalants
Inhalants are products that give off chemical vapours. Many inhalants are volatile solvents—gasoline, paint thinner, glue—used to perform everyday tasks at home, school or work. They are not intended for inhalation. When purposely inhaled, the vapours affect how we think and feel, slowing down our heart rate, breathing, thoughts and actions.
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Treatments: What Works?
It seems like everyone has an opinion when it comes to treatments for mental health or substance use problems. To add to the confusion, it isn’t always obvious who is basing their opinions on real evidence and who is not. And while we often hear people talk about evidence-based treatments, it’s also clear that complementary and alternative medicine approaches are helpful for some.
Learn About Inhalants Reference List
The list below provides the references to the research studies discussed in Learn About Inhalants.
Finding the Right Help - Navigating the System
While it's common to talk about the mental health system, the system isn’t a singular entity. The system might include primary care, mental health, substance use, housing, income assistance, and justice. They are not always accessed the same way, through similar gatekeepers.
Recovery
When we talk about mental illnesses and substance use problems, it’s easy to talk in clinical terms: that person has this symptom, or that person uses a certain drug. But recovery is so much bigger than a checklist.
Inhalants
Inhalants are any substances create a vapour that can be inhaled. They include everyday things like glue and cleaning products as well as gases like nitrous oxide and nitrates.
