Hazardous Substances
Glue / Solvent Sniffing
Street names: Huffing glue, Solvents, Toluene sniffing, Chroming
Overdose? Act now. Call emergency services — say "unresponsive, not breathing". Give naloxone for opioid-like signs. Hotlines
⚡What it does
- 10–15 min euphoria, disinhibition, hallucinations
- Dizziness, slurred speech, loss of coordination
⚠Key risks
- The CLASSIC youth inhalant — peak use age 14–15
- Sudden sniffing death from cardiac arrest
- Permanent brain damage (cerebellar atrophy — users lose ability to walk/talk)
- Liver, kidney, heart damage
- Suffocation from bag over head
- 'Huffer's rash' around the mouth — telltale sign
✚Overdose signs
- Sudden collapse, cardiac arrest
- Seizures
- Unconsciousness
- Irregular heartbeat
Category comparison — Hazardous Substances
| Substance | Class | Top risks | Street price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glue / Solvent Sniffing | Not drugs — adhesives and solvents | The CLASSIC youth inhalant — peak use age 14–15; Sudden sniffing death from cardiac arrest | $1–$5 per tube/can — pocket money prices |
| Potassium Cyanide (KCN) | Not a drug — regulated toxic chemical | Lethal dose ~200–300 mg — death within minutes to an hour; No antidote available outside hospital; hydrogen cyanide gas from acid contact | N/A — sometimes sold fraudulently as 'peaceful exit' scams |
| Air Duster (Computer Duster / Canned Air) | Household product — not a drug; no age restriction on purchase | SUDDEN SNIFFING DEATH — the most deadly inhalant: difluoroethane sensitizes the heart to adrenaline; a sudden fright, chase, or exertion triggers fatal cardiac arrest. First-time users die; Frostbite to lungs and airway from direct spray | $3–$8 per can at any electronics/office store |
| Gasoline / Petrol Huffing | Not a drug — fuel product | Extremely toxic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, xylene); Sudden sniffing death — cardiac arrest | Effectively free — siphoned fuel |
| Refrigerant / Freon Huffing | Not a drug — HVAC refrigerant | EXTREMELY dangerous — refrigerant gases (difluoroethane, tetrafluoroethane) cause sudden cardiac death at high rates; Frostbite to airways | Stolen/siphoned — no price, high death cost |
| Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) Abuse | OTC — unrestricted purchase | DELIRIANT — not a fun hallucinogen: users can't distinguish hallucination from reality; Heart arrhythmia — anticholinergic load strains the heart; deaths documented | $3–$8 per box |
Street prices are regional estimates. Potency and cuts vary constantly.
?Frequently asked questions
What does Glue / Solvent Sniffing look like?
Household glue (model glue, rubber cement), paint thinner, correction fluid, felt-tip markers
What are the signs of a Glue / Solvent Sniffing overdose?
Sudden collapse, cardiac arrest; Seizures; Unconsciousness Call emergency services immediately.
How addictive is it?
The CLASSIC youth inhalant — peak use age 14–15 Dependence can develop with regular use.
🔗Sources & further reading
Facts on this page are compiled from these primary sources. External links open in a new tab.