Inhalant Addiction Treatment at We Level Up Lake Worth

Inhalants encompass a diverse group of substances that produce vapors with psychoactive effects. These substances fall into four main categories:

• Aerosols: Spray paints, hair sprays, and cooking sprays containing propellants and solvents
• Gases: Medical anesthetics like nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”), butane lighters, and propane tanks
• Nitrites: Often marketed as “poppers” or room odorizers
• Volatile solvents: Paint thinners, gasoline, glues, and correction fluids

Users typically inhale these substances through various methods:

• Bagging: Breathing fumes from substances placed in a plastic or paper bag
• Huffing: Soaking a rag with the substance and holding it to the face
• Sniffing or snorting: Directly inhaling vapors from containers
• Spraying: Directly spraying aerosols into the mouth or nose

Short-term Effects of Inhalants

When someone inhales these substances, they experience rapid intoxication similar to alcohol intoxication, including:

• Dizziness and lightheadedness
• Hallucinations and delusions
• Initial euphoria and excitement
• Nausea and vomiting
• Slurred speech and lack of coordination

A particularly dangerous risk is Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome—heart failure that can strike even on the first use. Inhalants make the heart highly reactive to adrenaline, potentially leading to cardiac arrest if the user is startled or exercises. Additionally, users face the dangers of asphyxiation (not enough oxygen), suffocation, and choking.

Residential Inpatient Rehabilitation

Our residential inpatient program provides the structured environment and intensive therapy needed to address the complex issues underlying inhalant addiction:

• Immersive therapeutic environment with round-the-clock support
• Individual and group therapy sessions
• Removal from access to inhalants and environmental triggers
• Structured routine that promotes healthy habits and coping skills

For many struggling with inhalant addiction, this level of care offers the necessary separation from environments where these substances are readily available, creating space for new patterns to develop.

Outpatient Programs

As recovery progresses, patients might consider outpatient programs, which can offer continued support with greater flexibility:

• Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): Focused treatment several days per week
• Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP): Structured daytime treatment while returning home evenings
• Standard Outpatient Care: Ongoing support while returning to work, school, and family responsibilities

These programs serve as stepping stones, allowing clients to practice recovery skills in real-world settings while maintaining connection to therapeutic support.

Medical Detoxification

For those requiring detoxification, our medical team provides careful monitoring and support:

• Introduction to therapeutic community and recovery principles
• Medical interventions to address complications from inhalant-related organ damage
• Nutritional support to begin healing the body
• Preparation for the intensive therapeutic work ahead
• Safe management of any withdrawal symptoms

While the physical detox from inhalants may be shorter than for some other substances, this phase is crucial for stabilization and building trust in treatment.

Therapeutic Interventions

The core of inhalant addiction treatment involves intensive therapeutic work:

• Family therapy to heal relationships and build understanding
• Group therapy providing peer support and shared learning
• Individual therapy sessions to address personal triggers and underlying issues
• Psychoeducational groups about addiction, brain chemistry, and recovery
• Skill-building sessions focused on coping strategies and relapse prevention

Throughout this process, your treatment plan is regularly reviewed and adjusted based on your progress and emerging needs.

Aftercare Planning

Long before completion of the formal treatment program, we begin preparing for continued recovery:

• Connection with our alumni community for continued support
• Creation of a structured daily routine that supports sobriety
• Development of a personalized relapse prevention plan
• Identification of community resources and support groups
• Planning for ongoing therapy or outpatient treatment as needed

This thoughtful transition planning bridges the gap between treatment and independent recovery, significantly improving long-term outcomes.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) forms a cornerstone of our treatment approach, helping clients:

• Create new neural pathways that support healthier behaviors
• Build problem-solving skills for managing life’s challenges without substances
• Identify and challenge distorted thinking patterns that contribute to substance use
• Recognize triggers and develop effective coping strategies

Research consistently shows CBT to be among the most effective approaches for substance use disorders, providing tools that continue to serve clients long after formal treatment ends.

Motivational Interviewing

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a collaborative approach that strengthens motivation and commitment to change by:

• Building intrinsic motivation rather than imposing external pressure
• Exploring and resolving ambivalence about recovery
• Meeting clients where they are in their readiness for change
• Respecting autonomy while encouraging positive change

MI is very helpful for individuals who aren’t sure if they want to stop using inhalants. Its non-confrontational style helps them build their own strong desire to get better.

Holistic Therapies

Complementing clinical approaches, holistic treatment therapies can help support overall wellbeing:

• Art therapy providing non-verbal expression of emotions and experiences
• Mindfulness meditation to develop present-moment awareness and reduce stress
• Nutritional counseling to repair physical damage from substance use
• Recreational activities that build healthy leisure skills
• Yoga and movement therapy to reconnect with the body and release trauma

These practices help address the physical and emotional impacts of inhalant use while teaching sustainable self-care strategies.

12-Step Facilitation

While offering multiple pathways to recovery, we recognize the value of 12-Step programs for many individuals:

• Introduction to 12-Step principles and practices
• Connections to community-based recovery groups
• Exploration of both traditional and alternative recovery communities
• Facilitated 12-Step meetings on-site

This exposure helps clients build connections to supportive recovery communities that can provide ongoing support after treatment.

Each client’s treatment plan incorporates a personalized combination of these approaches, tailored to individual needs, preferences, and recovery goals.

Many individuals who develop inhalant addiction are attempting to self-medicate underlying mental health issues. Common co-occurring disorders include:

• Anxiety disorders
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Depression and mood disorders
• Other substance use disorders
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Research from the NIDA indicates that approximately 50% of individuals with severe mental disorders are affected by substance abuse. For inhalant users specifically, rates of co-occurring mental health conditions may be even higher.

Our integrated treatment model ensures that both conditions receive appropriate attention through:

• Coordinated care between addiction specialists and mental health professionals
• Development of coping skills that address both conditions
• Education about the interaction between substance use and mental health
• Psychiatric evaluation and medication management when appropriate
• Therapies designed to address both addiction and mental health symptoms

By addressing both inhalant addiction and co-occurring mental health conditions simultaneously, we help clients break the cycle of self-medication and develop healthier ways to manage emotions.