It’s hard to tell whether somebody in your family is abusing inhalants. A normal household cleaning solution can be abused due to its addictive fumes or vapors. But how do you tell the solution is used for more than just cleaning? Asking the person directly is of no use because most addicts deny using inhalants.
Educate yourselves first
You must educate yourselves about the signs and symptoms of abusing inhalants. This makes it easier to catch the abuser in your family.
Those who are sure that one of their family members is abusing inhalants must contacttheIllinois drug rehab center. Inhalants are as addictive as drugs. Please do not think that you can talk a person into not using the chemical.
Firstly, they won’t. Secondly, they can’t.
Never snatch the substance from an addict
It is not easy to stop using a substance once you become addicted to it. You must understand this before you confront, blame, scold, or coax a person to stop using the chemical.
If you snatch away the chemical from them so that they don’t abuse it, you are endangering their life because not using the chemical will produce intenseInhalant withdrawal symptoms. They can be life-threatening, if not attended to medically.
So, never do that to an addict, caution experts.
Stopping cold turkey could be dangerous
An addict is so dependent on the substance that stopping its use will cripple them. It may also make them desperate enough to get the substance at any cost. Many addicts are also known to become violent. They are so blindfolded in their addiction that they can even hit their parents or elders or best friends in a fit of rage for not getting their substance.
If you find you are unable to handle the addict, please call the drug addiction hotline. The experts will intervene and handle the tough job.
Warning signs of inhalant abuse
- Disoriented appearance – your loved one may roam around ill-groomed with no care for personal hygiene or appearance.
- Abnormally tired – you may find your loved one looking exhausted for no reason.
- Confusion – Your loved one might find it difficult to make decisions or think clearly or may appear blank or confused.
- Poor coordination – Your loved one may go off balance or wobble on their feet or show abnormal limb movements, clumsiness, abnormal gait, slow movements, and others.
- Unresponsive – They may not respond to you calling them or respond slowly.
- Slur in speech – You notice a slur in their speech while they talk.
- Irritability – They may become irritated when you ask them questions or show irritation without reason.
- Weird behavior – Their behavior may make you wonder what’s happened to them.
If you notice any of the above signs, you must immediately search for “rehab near me.” Your loved one needs help.
Other obvious signs
- Chemical odor exuding from your loved one’s breath or clothes.
- Stained clothes or face and hands.
- You discover hidden cans, pieces of rags, and other such items from your loved one’s room.
Distancing oneself from family and friends and staying depressed are also two alarming signs of addiction. Watch out for them too.
