Abuse of isobutyl nitrite inhalation (Rush) by adolescents.
Isobutyl nitrite is a volatile liquid sold without a prescription as a "room odorizer" but is widely used as an inhalant to produce feelings of euphoria. Of the 173 13-22-year-olds (mean age, 16 years) clients of a long-term drug treatment facility who completed a questionnaire related to drug use, 74 (43%) admitted to having used isobutyl nitrite at least once, 22 (13%) had used the substance ten or more times, and eight (4%) used the substance 50 or more times. Inhalation of this malodorous substance leads almost universally to dizziness and lightheadedness and usually to severe symptoms of vasodilatation such as "pounding of the heart," blurred vision, and a "warm feeling." The feeling was unpleasant to 44 percent of the users in this study, and most also experienced pulsatile headache. In addition, contact dermatitis and irritation of the tracheobronchial tree and eyes occurred in some users. The primary use of this substance as an euphoric agent warrants consideration of banning its sale altogether.
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D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols; D004244:Dizziness / Q000139:chemically induced; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009573:Nitrites / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
D000336:Aerosols; D009573:Nitrites; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; C018086:isobutyl nitrite