Course Summary

An inhalant use disorder is diagnosed according to criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) and includes the use of traditional categories of inhalants, such as aerosols, gasses, nitrites, and solvents. Inhalants are often described as volatile substances that the user inhales for a psychoactive effect. Chemicals misused as inhalants are often found in various household products that some United States jurisdictions have started to regulate. Identification and treatment of inhalant use disorder require partnership with interdisciplinary health professionals in acute care and community settings. Inhalant use disorders require a unique approach by all members of the interdisciplinary health team to raise awareness of the risk, prevention, and available treatment when the misuse of solvents is identified.

Course Format

Homestudy

Course Syllabus

  • Introduction
  • Overview of Inhalant Use Disorder
  • Products and Solvents Commonly Used
  • Pharmacology
    • High Lipid Solubility
    • Rapid Metabolism
  • Patterns and Methods of Inhalant Use
  • Diagnosis of Inhalant Use Disorder
    • Neurological
    • Cardiopulmonary
    • Metabolic and Gastrointestinal
    • Hematologic
    • Dermal
    • Fatalities
    • Assessment for Inhalant Intoxication
    • Chronic Clinical Effects
  • Clinical Care and Treatment
    • Acute Care of Toxic Exposure
    • Chronic Solvent User
  • Case Study: Inhalant Use and Toxic Exposure
  • Summary

Author

Dana Bartlett, RN, BSN, MSN, MA, CSPI

Dana Bartlett is a professional nurse and author. His clinical experience includes 16 years of ICU and ER experience and over 27 years as a poison control center information specialist. Dana has published numerous CE and journal articles, written NCLEX material, textbook chapters, and more than 100 online CE articles, and done editing and reviewing for publishers such as Elsevier, Lippincott, and Thieme. He has written widely on the subject of toxicology and was a contributing editor, toxicology section, for Critical Care Nurse journal. He is currently employed at the Connecticut Poison Control Center. He lives in Wappingers Falls, NY.