Medically reviewed by Mr. Pratik Masal, MBA (Healthcare Management)
Inhalant addiction is the compulsive misuse of volatile substances — glue, correction fluid, paint thinner, aerosols or petrol — inhaled to become intoxicated. It is most common among adolescents and can cause sudden death and lasting organ and brain injury even early on. Sharanam provides supervised residential treatment.
What the treatment involves
- Medical assessment of the damage inhalants can do to the brain, heart, liver, kidneys and lungs.
- Supervised, supportive care. Inhalants do not usually cause a dangerous physical withdrawal, but supervision manages craving, low mood and any neurological effects.
- Psychiatric assessment for co-occurring depression, anxiety or behavioural difficulty.
- Counselling suited to the person, who is often young.
- Family involvement, which is central when the person is an adolescent.
- Relapse-prevention planning and aftercare.
What to realistically expect
Some of the cognitive and mood effects of inhalant use improve with sustained abstinence, particularly in the young. However, heavy or prolonged use can cause neurological damage that does not fully reverse. Early, sustained treatment gives the best chance of recovery, and we will be honest about what we see.