Classification
Inhalants can be classified by the intended function. Most inhalant drugs that are used non-medically are ingredients in household or industrial chemical products that are not intended to be concentrated and inhaled. A small number of recreational inhalant drugs are pharmaceutical products that are used illicitly.
Inhalants can also be classified by chemical structure. Classes include:
| Category | ICD-10 | Examples | Example image |
|---|---|---|---|
| aliphatic hydrocarbons | T52.0 | petroleum products (gasoline and kerosene), propane, butane | |
| aromatic hydrocarbons | T52.1-T52.2 | toluene, xylene | |
| ketones | T52.4 | acetone (nail polish remover) | |
| haloalkanes | T53 | hydrofluorocarbons, chlorofluorocarbon, trichloroethylene, 1,1,1-Trichloroethane (including many aerosols and propellants) | |
| nitrites | T59.0, T65.3, T65.5 | alkyl nitrites (poppers such as amyl nitrite), nitrous oxide |
It is also possible to classify inhalants by the effect they have on the body. Many inhalants act primarily as asphyxiant gases, with their primary effect due to oxygen deprivation. Other agents may have more direct effects at receptors.
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