People who use inhalants regularly may start to show signs that they are “malfunctioning.” But some of the signs are subtle (not easily noticeable), others more visible:

-Sores around the mouth

-They smell like chemicals—either on their breath or clothing

-Unexplained paint stains on the hands and face

-Empty containers of spray cans or aerosols, etc.

-Loss of appetite and/or nausea

-Drunkenness without the use of alcohol

-Disorientation

-Lack of coordination

-Slurred speech

People who use inhalants also experience signs of addiction, both tolerance and withdrawal. Tolerance is when a person needs more of the same substance in order to feel the original high. Withdrawal are the symptoms a person experiences when he or she is no longer taking the substance but the body wants it.