Huffing Compressed Air: Risks and Dangers of Air Duster Drug Abuse

Huffing compressed air from air duster cans is a popular way for teens, young adults, and some older adults to feel euphoric. Compressed air, an air duster used to clean delicate objects like keyboards, is often misused by inhaling the gas when spraying the can.

Inhaling compressed air fumes can be extremely dangerous and carries significant risks, including liver damage, breathing problems, and possible death. Learn more about compressed air drug abuse, its dangers, and the signs of misuse.

What Is Compressed Air?

Compressed air, also known as air dusters or canned air, is used for household cleaning in hard-to-reach areas, such as cleaning delicate electronics components or keyboards. Compressed air is legal and widely available in hardware, electronics, and department stores.

Though canned air isn’t viewed as a drug of abuse and isn’t a controlled substance, it’s commonly misused as a type of inhalant. Young adolescents misuse canned air, spray paint, correction fluid, markers, and other household inhalants.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in 2023, less than 1% of people ages 12 and older reported using inhalants at least once in the past year. While inhalant use is declining, the NIDA-funded Monitoring the Future survey revealed that around 4% of 8th graders (14 years old) used inhalants in the last year.[2]

What’s in Compressed Air?

Compressed air contains various ingredients, some of which are extremely dangerous – especially when inhaled. Here are some of the ingredients commonly found in compressed air:[3]

• Nitrous oxide, which can cause vomiting and nausea
• Difluoroethane, which can cause heart problems and loss of consciousness
• Butane, which can cause heart problems and possible sudden death
• Alkyl nitrites, which can cause vomiting or rapid heartbeat
• Propane, which can cause loss of consciousness and convulsions

Inhaling these ingredients can be hazardous to your health. They’re not intended for inhalation, or even in poorly ventilated rooms, because of the health risks.

Street Names for Inhaling Compressed Air

Air dusters go by many brand names in retail markets, but they have street names when misused:

• Huffing
• Dusting
• Sunshine can
• Air blast
• Chroming
• Bold
• Glad
• Hippie crack
• Moon gas
• Poor man’s pot
• Rush
• Snappers

How Is Compressed Air Misused?

Getting high using compressed air involves inhaling it, but there are specific methods people may use:

• Sniffing or snorting the gas through the nose
• Spraying the gas into a plastic or paper bag and breathing the fumes (bagging)
• Saturating a rag with compressed air gas and placing it over the nose and mouth (huffing)

The high from compressed air happens quickly and only lasts a few minutes, so people may inhale the gas repeatedly to maintain the euphoria. Sometimes, the process may be repeated for several hours.

Along with euphoria, huffing compressed air can cause:[4]

• Lightheadedness
• Hallucinations
• Loss of control
• Loss of self-consciousness
• Poor coordination
• Slurred speech
• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Headache

What Are the Risks of Huffing Compressed Air?

Inhaling the gas from compressed air has serious risks, not only from the product’s ingredients, but also from inhaling fumes. Some of the dangers include:[5]

• Unconsciousness
• Irritation of the nose, throat, and lungs
• Heart irregularities
• Coughing
• Shortness of breath
• Difficulty breathing
• Irregular pulse
• Palpitations
• Poor kidney function
• Nasal frostbite
• Inadequate circulation
• Liver damage
• Breakdown of muscle tissue (rhabdomyolysis)
• Suffocation
• Convulsions
• Brain or nerve damage
• Bone marrow damage
• Aspiration from vomiting

Some people experience sudden sniffing death after breathing in an inhalant, which causes sudden cardiac arrest.

Addiction to Compressed Air

An addiction to inhaling compressed air isn’t as clearly defined as addiction to other substances like alcohol or opioids, but it is possible. This can happen if compressed air is misused repeatedly and frequently, leading to a compulsive need to continue using it.

Withdrawal can occur if you misuse inhalants regularly and stop suddenly. Some of the symptoms include:[6]

• Loss of appetite
• Sweating
• Nausea
• Trouble sleeping
• Mood changes

Signs of Compressed Air Misuse and Addiction

Identifying compressed air misuse can be trickier than some other drugs, but you may notice:

• A bulk supply of air duster cans in the house
• Stashes of rags or paper and plastic bags
• Constant sore throats
• Recurrent facial rashes, particularly around the nose and mouth
• A chemical odor on the breath or clothing
• Weight changes
• Mood changes
• Behavioral changes

Addiction is characterized by a compulsive need to continue using a substance despite the problems it may cause to one’s health, interpersonal relationships, or general wellbeing. They can’t stop, even though they know the risks and effects.

The official term for an inhalant addiction is an inhalant use disorder, which has the following criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5):[7]

• Unsuccessful attempts to stop using compressed air
• Spending a lot of time obtaining, using, or recovering from compressed air
• Experiencing cravings for compressed air
• Continuing to use compressed air despite problems at work, school, or home
• Using compressed air in dangerous situations
• Failing obligations to home or work because of compressed air
• Giving up on activities once enjoyed because of compressed air

If someone is misusing compressed air, you may notice other signs, such as spending a lot of time alone, hanging out with different friends, loss of interest in hobbies, sleep problems, recurrent health problems, poor personal hygiene, appetite changes, having legal or financial issues, and struggling at work or school.

Can You Overdose on Compressed Air?

Yes, it’s possible to overdose on compressed air. The noxious ingredients in canned air are highly concentrated, so it’s possible to overdose from huffing the fumes.[8] Even if you use compressed air for the first time, you can experience seizures, coma, or sudden cardiac death. It’s also possible to die from asphyxiation as the fumes push air out of the lungs, or accidental suffocation from breathing fumes with a bag over your head.

If you suspect someone is overdosing on an inhalant, call 911 immediately. It’s crucial to get medical help as quickly as possible to reverse the effects of inhalant intoxication and provide care for life-threatening complications like seizures or cardiac arrest.

Treating Inhalant Abuse

Misusing compressed air has serious risks, no matter how often you do it. If you or someone you love is misusing or addicted to compressed air, it’s important to seek help as soon as possible.

Treating inhalant use disorder is similar to treating other substance use disorders. Suppose withdrawal is severe or multiple drugs are involved (polydrug use). In that case, medical detox may be recommended to monitor health and reduce the risk of complications with the help of a medical team.

However, detox isn’t enough to address addiction on its own. Once detox is complete, it’s crucial to enter a comprehensive addiction treatment program on an inpatient or outpatient basis to address the psychological aspects of addiction. This may include individual therapy, group counseling, family counseling, support groups, and behavioral therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Get Help for Compressed Air Misuse

Compressed air is an accessible and inexpensive way for people – especially young people – to get a high. However, there are serious risks involved in huffing compressed air, including possible death from cardiac arrest. If you or someone you know is struggling with inhalant addiction, it’s important to get them help as soon as possible to avoid any adverse effects.