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Characteristics of the User Age of Onset Often first substance used before marijuana and cocaine. In fact, inhalant use often appears before onset of tobacco or alcohol use. Experimental use onset in late childhood & early adolescence, use patterns are short lived, with cessation in late adolescence Chronic use appears in early & late adolescence Fast and Multiple Intoxication Users can get high several times over a short period because inhalants are short-acting with a rapid onset Attractive to children who don't like delayed gratification Poor School Attendance Drop-outs Absenteeism Suspension Expulsion Delinquency Particularly theft and burglary Inhalant users are more disruptive, deviant or delinquent than other drug users Ethnic Membership Users are predominately white Minority involvement is concentrated in American and Canadian Native American Indians; and, Low income Hispanics Gender Experimental use equally common in males, females Chronic use most common in males Morbidity and mortality more common among chronic male users Some male homosexuals (limited to nitrites) High Exposure Occupational Settings Adults in certain high-exposure occupational settings (e.g., painters) High Exposure Professions Adult medical workers (e.g., anesthesiologist, dentist) Use of Multiple Inhalants Exposure to solvent mixtures either in occupational or abuse settings is far more common than exposure to a single solvent. Use of Other Drugs Multiple Personal and Social Problems Poor Adjustment to Work Environments Multiproblem and Disrupted Families Varied Socioeconomic Conditions Impoverished, marginal or ghetto situations Middle to Upper Income Parental Alcohol/Drug Abuse Weakened Parental Influence Some parents do not discourage their child's use of inhalants Some parents have low sanctions against inhalant use by peers of their children Poor School Performance and Adjustment Attention deficit; poor short term memory Low abstraction and judgement scores Lower grades Lower Intelligence Scores (verbal & performance) Psychopathology Users seeking treatment have high rates of psychopathology, especially conduct disorders and personality disorders More psychopathology in those who use when they are alone Antisocial personality Depressive disorder Emotional Problems More emotional problems than other drug users or non-drug users (especially anxiety, depression and anger) Weak or Negative-Future Orientations Users have dismal or no future orientations; uncertain whether or not the future is worth waiting for. Low Self Esteem High Adolescent Rebellion Strong Peer Drug Influence Peers have high inhalant and drug use Peers have high deviance behaviors Peer cluster theory Special Setting Prisons Boarding Schools Acculturation Stress Criminal Justice System Involvement More family members in prison Source: "Understanding the Inhalant User," Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse

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