Safer Inhaling
Solvents, gasses, glues – call them what you want, but they all can cause major problems, and it is very difficult to use them safely. More young people die each year from using solvents that all other illegal drugs combined.
However, if you do choose to use solvents, be as safe as possible by following these steps below:
- Don’t use alone – there will be no-one there to help you if something goes wrong.
- Don’t spray gasses directly into your mouth or throat – you greatly increase your chances of freezing your throat and suffocating.
- If you are using a bag to sniff from, don’t put it over your head – if you lose consciousness you could suffocate.
- Try to be somewhere with good ventilation – if you are indoors keep a window open.
- Don’t use near naked flames (this can include cigarette lighters and cigarettes), solvents are flammable.
- Try to stay away from dangerous places such as rivers, roads, high buildings etc.
- Don’t mix with other drugs including alcohol as this increases the chances of problems.
- The longer you use solvents the more you damage your organs including kidneys, liver, lungs, eyes, inner ear and brain.
If you are with someone who has used solvent
- Try to keep them calm – a lot of problems occur when people are high and either running around or panicking about something
- Stay with them – if something does happen and you don’t know what to do call an ambulance