Inhalants

Inhalants

• Household and workplace products contain chemicals with psychoactive properties when inhaled
• Rapidly absorbed and reach CNS quickly
• Most are depressants
• Long-term use can result in brain damage

Cannabis

• THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) a key ingredient in cannabis causes psychoactive effects
  • Low to moderate doses produce alcohol-like effects
  • Long-term use has cardiopulmonary and mental health effects
• Legalization for medical and recreational use is controversial
  • Medical uses
    • Nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy
    • Appetite stimulant in AIDS patients
  • Illegal synthetic THC derivatives
    • Unpredictable effects
    • More toxic
• Toxicity
  • Causes:
    • Acute psychotic episodes
    • Tachycardia, hypertension, dysrhythmias, MI (myocardial infarction)
    • Panic and flashbacks
  • Care includes quiet environment and benzodiazepines
• Withdrawal
  • Heavy cannabis use
  • Irritability, anxiety, anorexia, chills, disturbed sleep, fever, tremors
  • Peaks about 48 hours after cessation
  • Lasts 3-4 days
  • No drug therapy is effective

Caffeine

• Most widely used psychoactive substance in the world
• Weak stimulant
  • Increases wakefulness
  • Facilitate motor activity
  • Treat headaches
• Toxicity
  • Cause cardiac dysrhythmias
  • Hypertension
  • Disturbed sleep
  • Seizures, and anxiety.
• Dependence
  • Muscle pain or stiffness,
  • Drowsiness, irritability, and headaches after general anesthesia