As Solvents, liquid organic compounds were used in the industry or in the household, like
- Gasoline (mixture of low simmering aliphatic hydrocarbons, possibly with admixtures injurious to health, also in the form of liquefied gases [propane, butane] from lighter refilling doses)
- Toluene and other aromatic hydrocarbons
- Chloroform and other halogenated hydrocarbons, mixtures of industrial solvents with partly changing composition (Pattex®, cellulose thinner, amyl nitrite (Poppers)
- Diethylether, whereby the transition is difficulty controllable for the narcotic effect.
Misuse started already in the 50's where young people in the USA and Scandinavia sniffed solvents in order to get high. The solvents were dripped either on handkerchiefs and held before the nose or poured in plastic bags, which were pulled over the head. There is the special danger of a rapid anesthesia and a deadly poisoning or to the danger of asphyxiation by oxygen deficiency.
Pharmacological effect
The pharmacological effect exists in a paralysis of the central nervous system (unconsciousness) and pain insensitivity (anesthesia). In the last stage of the paralysis also fatal breath paralysis and cycle disturbances can occur.
Psychological effect
The desired psychological effects are an easy clouding consciousness, a "euphorically sounded drowsiness", switching off everyday problems and the "dreamful implementation of own fantasy shapes" e.g. to be "Superman".
According E. Schuster and H. Waldmann it has to be differentiate between four stages of the effects of solvents:
- Nausea, calf pain and head pressure
- Increased susceptibility for outside attractions,
- Well-being and feeling of weightlessness similarly the alcohol intoxication
- Superficial sleep with day fantasies
- Unconsciousness
Dangers of solvent misuse
Chronic use of chloroform can lead to liver damage, central nervous dismantling features by brief oxygen deficiency in the brain and with overdosing to the breath paralysis.
Trichlorethylene abuse can lead to nerve inflammations, polyneuropathies, trigeminal nerve injuries and heart damage.<7p>
Regular inhalation of toluol steams can lead with young people to ravings of several days (similar the "Delirium tremens" with the alcohol).
For Sovent consumers over a period of many years also brain damage with memory and drive losses were observed. Dangers proceed also from solvents, which possess even no intoxicating effect, however, for the excerpt production of nature drugs solvents are used but not completely removed. For example, acetone arrears could be responsible for liver damages.
