According to research, the rates of volatile substance use and addiction have been rising rapidly in the world and in our country in recent years. Substance use and disorders lead to personal short and long-term health problems, behavioral and social problems. The substance user becomes a part of serious deterioration in family and community health. Substance use disorders can develop as a result of genetic, individual and environmental factors and constitute a complex process. In this process, prevention, detection and treatment methods provide a great opportunity to improve individual and community health. People who use volatile substances often also have other psychiatric disorders.
What is Volatile Substance Addiction?
Volatile substances are defined as substances that can vaporize at room temperature. Volatile substances are preferred because of their sudden, blissful, slightly intoxicating effects.
Volatile substance addiction is characterized by a gaseous state at room temperature and usually enters the bloodstream through the nose. These chemicals are commercially available in four different forms. We can list some of these forms as follows;
- Volatiles used in adhesives and glues
- Used as a propellant in spray paints, hair sprays, frying pan sprays and shaving cream aerosols
- Thinners (e.g. used in paints and typewriter correction fluids
- Liquid fuels
At room temperature, these compounds are gaseous and enter the bloodstream via the transpulmonary route by inhalation through the mouth or nasal inhalation. Volatile substances are easily accessible, have a short duration of action and are frequently abused, especially by adolescents.
Since volatile substances are cheap and easy to obtain, their use and volatile substance addiction rates are high.
According to research, it is understood that volatile substance addiction is generally seen in people between the ages of 5-21. The main factors that cause volatile substance addiction are the environment of friends, the feeling of envy towards people who use substances around them, lack of education and ignorance.
People who are addicted to volatile substances smell the substance either from their own container or by pouring it on a piece of cloth and start to get drunk shortly after smelling the substance. They may become aggressive towards people around them and may damage property. They may tend to self-harm after substance use, causing accidents and injuries. Their tendency to sleep increases after inhaling volatile substances.
What are the symptoms of volatile substance addiction?
People with volatile substance addiction can be recognized by the odor of the substance on their breath and the substances that stick to them.
As long as these people continue to use the substance for a long time, serious disorders occur in the heart and circulatory system, nervous system, respiratory system, excretory system and muscular structures. Early diagnosis and treatment of volatile substance addiction is very important.
Some of the symptoms seen in people with volatile substance addiction are as follows;
- Stomach and headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Numbness in the hand and foot
- Distraction
- Tendency to sleep
- Frequent need to urinate
- Symptoms such as ringing in the ears may occur.
How is volatile substance addiction treated?
Continuous use of volatile substances damages the nervous system.
Outpatient treatment for volatile substance abuse: It is administered to people who have an increasing addiction to volatile substances and do not have complaints that require hospitalization. Outpatient addiction treatment initially consists of 3 sessions per week for a period of 1 month.
Inpatient volatile substance treatment: For people who are suffering from volatile substance complaints and have symptoms that require hospitalization. Inpatient treatment programs are applied to patients who require an intensive psychological support program and medication or who cannot achieve success in outpatient treatment.
