Official State of Iowa Website Here is how you know

Inhalant Analysis (Blood and Urine)

  • The laboratory tests for inhalants in both blood and urine.

  • Inhalant testing for urine cases should be requested in the case comments section upon submission.

  • The biological sample can be placed in any type of evidence container (bottle or gray topped tube).

  • The most common inhalant the laboratory detects and reports out is Difluoroethane.

  • Some examples of inhalants the laboratory detects are: *Sevoflurane, Methanol, Toluene & Acetone.

*Sevoflurane is an anesthetic and may be given to a subject by medical personnel.

  • Inhalants detected on a person’s breath may cause an “INTERFERENCE DETECTED” response from the DataMaster.

 

General Information:

  • Inhalants are common household products people inhale to get a high.

  • There are over a 1,000 readily available inhalant products.

  • For the most part, inhalants are cheap, legal and easy to acquire.

  • There is a high potential for abuse since inhalants are so easy to obtain.

  • Effects of inhalant use and/or abuse can be irreversible and may cause death, even on the first try.

 

Two main Inhalant groups and examples:

  1. Aerosols (sprays) – (household products)

    • Hair spray, deodorant, vegetable oil sprays & fabric protector sprays

    • Computer cleaning products (“Dustoff” and equivalent products)

  2. Volatile Solvents (liquids) – (business and household items):

    • Gasoline, liquid in markers, glue, paint thinner, correction fluids & degreasers

 

Inhalants are used by:

  • Sniffing   -   inhaling vapors from an open container

  • Huffing    -   soaking a cloth with a substance & placing it over the mouth and nose

  • Dusting   -   inhaling vapors directly from aerosols

  • Bagging  -   placing an inhalant substance into a bag and inhaling the vapors by placing the bag over the face or head

 

Suggested Inhalant information websites:

National Inhalant Prevention Coalition Website

Teens experience in documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=392jFOsvpoQ