Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome

What is Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome (SSD)?

Sudden sniffing death syndrome (SSD) is immediate death caused by inhaling poisonous chemicals. SSD can happen instantly or a few minutes after use.¹

It’s often difficult to save the life of someone who has died from SSD because a fatality can happen quickly. People can only prevent SSD by avoiding inhalant abuse. Unlike other drugs capable of causing an overdose, there is no safe dose of an inhalant.

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What Causes Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome?

SSD is caused by poisonous chemicals found in inhalant drugs. Inhalants are chemical vapors that alter the mind when breathed in.³

Inhalants contain highly poisonous chemicals that can cause death by triggering a rapid, irregular heartbeat. You can also choke or suffocate to death after using an inhalant.²

Getting high on inhalants can lead to fatal injury due to displaying careless or aggressive behavior. Frequent inhalant use can also lead to a coma.²

Types of Inhalants

Inhalants can be found easily among everyday household products used for various purposes. These include:^1,3

Signs of Inhalant Abuse

Abusing inhalants can lead to physical and mental side effects. If you are using inhalants, you may show the following signs:⁴

Other mental symptoms may include:⁴

• Confusion
• Poor concentration
• Depression
• Irritability
• Hostility
• Paranoia

How Do People Use Inhalants?

Inhalants are easy to get due to their easy accessibility. Most inhalant drugs are available as everyday household products.

Methods for inhaling fumes that can lead to sudden sniffing death syndrome include:

• Sniffing or inhaling straight from the container 
• Huffing a rag soaked with an inhalant
• Inhaling fumes sprayed into a plastic bag (bagging)
• Whippits which come from a unique canister or balloon to inhale nitrous oxide
• Spraying aerosol sprays directly into the nose or mouth

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How to Prevent Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome

The best way to prevent sudden sniffing death syndrome is to avoid misusing inhalant drugs. You should especially avoid taking inhalant drugs if you have heart or breathing problems.

Other ways to prevent SSD include:

• Understanding what causes SSD and its effects on a person
• Seeking treatment for inhalant use disorders (IUD)

Call emergency medical attention immediately if you suspect someone is abusing inhalants. Although healthcare professionals can treat some symptoms of inhalant abuse, most people will die of sudden sniffing death syndrome before a first responder arrives.

Inhalant Abuse Statistics

In 2011, more than 22 million Americans aged 12 and older used inhalants. Every year more than 750,000 people use inhalants for the first time.⁵ Throughout the years, this number has fluctuated.

In 2021, 0.8% or about 2.2 million people aged 12 or older have reported using inhalants in the past 12 months. Meanwhile, in 2022, teenagers have been using inhalants in the past 12 months at an estimated rate of:⁶

• 3.6% of 8th graders
• 2.4% of 10th graders
• 1.8% of 12th graders

Lastly, in 2021 there was a decrease in the number of people reported to have an inhalant use disorder. Among people aged 12 or older, 0.1% or about 335,000 people had an inhalant use disorder in the past 12 months.⁶

Effects of Inhalant Abuse

Inhalants damage your nerve fibers and break down the communication network of cells between the body and the brain. It can also damage brain cells by limiting the amount of oxygen that reaches your brain.⁵

Overall, abusing inhalants can lead to short and long-term damage:

Short-Term Effects

Inhalants produce short-term effects similar to alcohol because of their depressant effects. Short-term side effects include:⁵

Long-Term Effects

Aside from SSD, abusing inhalants can lead to long-term health complications due to how it damages the nerve fibers. These long-term side effects include:⁵

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Treatment For Inhalant Use Disorder

Although there is no way to treat SSD, there are treatment options that can help you recover from IUD. These include:

• Inpatient treatment: Involves checking yourself into a rehab facility for 24-hour medical supervision 
• Outpatient treatment: A treatment program where you are freely allowed to leave the rehab facility
• Partial hospitalization program (PHPs): A treatment program where you stay at a rehab facility for a day and return home at night
• Medication-assisted treatment: Involves using medication, counseling, and therapy to treat addiction
• Support groups and aftercare programs: Provide a much-needed community to help maintain sobriety after treatment

Summary

Sudden sniffing death syndrome (SSD) is caused by fatally inhaling poisonous chemicals, typically inhalants. It is a condition that happens immediately or a few minutes after using an inhalant.

Inhalants can cause death by cardiac arrest, choking, or injury. It also has damaging short and long-term side effects.

Although there is no treatment for SSD, there are ways to prevent it from happening. You can educate yourself on SSD and inhalant use disorders (IUD). You can also seek treatment for IUD.

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