Episode 11: The Neuroscience of Sniffing Glue and Other Inhalants

Inspired by my coworker's tendency to superglue his fingers back together (listen for the full story), this episode dives into the pharmacological and neurological effects of sniffing glue and other recreational inhalants. Listen to learn a little bit more about how it both increases and decreases activity in dopamine neurons, acts on the same receptors as medical anesthetics and destroys the protective lining of your neurons. Please rate, review, and subscribe and if you have any questions, comments, concerns, queries, or complaints, please email me at [email protected] or DM me at NeuroscienceAmateurHour on Instagram.Citations below:What Are the Effects of Inhalant Use? archives.drugabuse.gov. Accessed March 1, 2022. https://archives.drugabuse.gov/publications/nida-community-drug-alert-bulletin-inhalants/what-are-effects-inhalant-useWilliams JF, Storck M. Inhalant Abuse. PEDIATRICS. 2007;119(5):1009-1017. doi:10.1542/peds.2007-0470Woodward JJ, Beckley J. Effects of the Abused Inhalant Toluene on the Mesolimbic Dopamine System. Journal of Drug and Alcohol Research. 2014;3:1-8. doi:10.4303/jdar/235838MacIver MB. Abused inhalants enhance GABA-mediated synaptic inhibition. Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology. 2009;34(10):2296-2304. doi:10.1038/npp.2009.57Themes UFO. The Pharmacology of Inhalants. Basicmedical Key. Published December 12, 2016. https://basicmedicalkey.com/the-pharmacology-of-inhalants/#head4About inhalants. Paediatrics & Child Health. 1998;3(2):132-133. doi:10.1093/pch/3.2.132Love S. Demyelinating diseases. Journal of Clinical Pathology. 2006;59(11):1151-1159. doi:10.1136/jcp.2005.031195Abuse NI on D. What are the other medical consequences of inhalant abuse? National Institute on Drug Abuse. Accessed March 2, 2022. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/inhalants/what-are-other-medical-consequences-inhalant-abuseSupport the show