Inhalants Remain Mexican's Drug of Choice

Inhalants Remain Mexican's Drug of Choice

Despite the huge amounts of drugs coming into Mexico, inhalants remain the drug of choice for many people. Marijuana and crack cocaine are too expensive for Mexico’s poor drug addicts. Powdered cocaine and heroin are viewed as drugs for rich Americans.

Solvents made with toluene are cheap and legal to purchase in Mexico. Toluene use is increasing, especially in the large cities in central Mexico. The number of people abusing inhalants in Mexico rose 70 percent from 2002 to 2008, according to Mexico’s Health Secretariat. The number of people entering drug treatment centers increased 80 percent during the same time period.

Since 2007, the Mexican government has opened more than 300 drug treatment centers. As part of President Felipe Calderon’s anti-drug campaign, there has been much attention paid to "traditional" drugs, but little attention paid to the dangers of inhalant abuse.

The chemicals found in inhalants damage cells in the brain. This damage can cause learning disabilities, speech problems and difficulty walking. The chemicals can attack the kidneys, liver and the heart. Toluene is not as physically addictive as crack cocaine, heroin or methamphetamine, but its use does become a dangerous habit for users.

"It alters their perceptions, makes them laugh, and life seems less harsh," said Juan Ramiro Vazquez, director of a drug treatment center in Mexico City.

Toluene is found in gasoline, acrylic paints, varnishes, lacquers, paint thinners, adhesives, glues, rubber cement, airplane glue and shoe polish. At room temperature, toluene is a colorless, sweet smelling but highly flammable liquid.

There are more than 1,000 products that are dangerous when inhaled. Common household products include typewriter correction fluid, air conditioning refrigerant, felt tip markers, spray paint, air freshener, butane and cooking spray.

In the United States, statistics show that young, white males have the highest rates of inhalant abuse. In this country, drug treatment centers for inhalant users are rare and often difficult to find. Inhalant users suffer from a high rate of relapse, and often require a lengthy period of detox. Inhalant users suffer withdrawal symptoms which can include hallucinations, nausea, excessive sweating, hand tremors, muscle cramps, headaches, chills and delirium tremens.

It is important to remember that inhalants are not drugs. They are poisons and toxins and can do great damage to the body.