Adolescent inhalant abuse leads to other drug use and impaired growth; implications for diagnosis

Abstract

Adolescent inhalant abuse increases the risk for subsequent and earlier drug use. It also impairs growth such that individuals meet 'failure to thrive' criteria, representing an improved diagnostic model for inhalant abuse. Implications for Public Health: Improved diagnosis of adolescent inhalant abuse may lead to earlier detection and enhanced health outcomes.

The effect of adolescent inhalant abuse on energy balance and growth

“…Indeed, one of the most profound, but underexplored, consequences of inhalant abuse is its effect on energy balance. In humans, adolescent inhalant abuse is associated with weight loss, and emaciation; findings which are supported by meta‐analysis . This meta‐analysis found a significant dose‐response relationship to toluene‐induced weight impairments, with the lowest concentration band (0‐500 ppm) having no significant impact on body weight, suggesting that occupational level exposure does not impact body weight in the same way as inhalant abuse .…”

“…This meta‐analysis found a significant dose‐response relationship to toluene‐induced weight impairments, with the lowest concentration band (0‐500 ppm) having no significant impact on body weight, suggesting that occupational level exposure does not impact body weight in the same way as inhalant abuse . Furthermore, one cohort study found that the weight suppressing effects of inhalant abuse was not mediated by other substance use, suggesting that inhalants are a strong mediator of this effect even with other drug‐drug interactions . Indeed, this effect on body weight is listed as a warning sign of inhalant abuse .…”

“…In addition to effects on food intake and body weight, exposure to toluene is associated with impaired linear growth . A clinical study of Indigenous males found that those with a history of chronic inhalant abuse in adolescence were, on average, 7 cm shorter than noninhalant users from the same communities; this height impairment persisted into sustained abstinence . In weanling and adolescent rats, chronic toluene exposure at concentrations analogous to inhalant abuse impairs growth, with a significant reduction in rump width and body length …”

Adolescent Inhalant Abuse Results in Adrenal Dysfunction and a Hypermetabolic Phenotype with Persistent Growth Impairments

“…Inhalant abuse is predominantly associated with early adolescence [3, 4], thus the peak period of exposure to toluene overlaps with the adolescent growth spurt, characterised by a rapid increase in body weight and height at around 12–15 years of age in males [5]. In humans, inhalant abuse has been associated with emaciation [6], weight impairment [7], and reduced height trajectory persisting into sustained abstinence [7, 8]. However, the mechanisms underlying these growth impairments remain unknown.…”

Exploring Harms Experienced by Children Aged 7 to 11 Using Ambulance Attendance Data: A 6-Year Comparison with Adolescents Aged 12–17

“…Suicidal thoughts and behaviour may also emerge from age 11 (from a longitudinal study of American sixth-grade students) [ 13 ] or even younger [ 14 , 15 ], though there is a lack of consensus regarding whether suicidal motives can be attributed to children younger than 12 [ 15 , 16 , 17 ]. In relation to alcohol and other drug use, there are drug types more prone to experimentation by young adolescents, including inhalants [ 7 , 18 ] and analgesics [ 7 ]. Both substances have relatively high rates of use in Australian 12-year olds that participated in the Australian Secondary Schools Alcohol and Drugs Survey [ 7 ], which would suggest that experimentation has begun at an earlier age, though this is not identified by population level surveys.…”