Volatile Substances

Trainer Notes

& Activities

Overview

Key points

  1. Four categories of volatile substances are inhaled for their psychoactive effect – solvents, aerosols, gases and nitrites.
  1. Volatile substances have appeal as they are cheap, readily available, and have rapid intoxication and recovery times.
  1. Volatile substance use is a transient short-term activity for some younger teenagers.
  1. As volatile substances produce euphoria, excitation and disinhibition, most problems are associated with intoxicated behaviour, such as accidental injury (suffocation, burns) and risk-taking behaviour.
  1. Parents, rather than young people themselves, are most likely to present for assistance.
  1. Symptomatic treatment and support for the individual may need to be accompanied by group or community responses.

Suggested Objectives

To enable GPs to:

  • identify the effects, consequences and harms related to the use of commonly used volatile substances
  • apply skills gained in other topics (such as Assessment and Brief Intervention) to respond to the harms associated with the use of commonly used volatile substances
  • assess problems related to the use of commonly used volatile substances
  • identify and rehearse harm reduction strategies to address concerns of parents and young people who are experiencing harms related to the use of commonly used volatile substances
  • identify, treat and refer patients with problems requiring specific care.


Resource Kit for GP Trainers on Illicit Drug Issues

Part B4 Drugs: Volatile Substances

Topic Contents

Slides

The slides with slide notes cover:

  • commonly used volatile substances, effects and routes of administration
  • appeal of use
  • harms associated with use
  • adverse acute and chronic effects
  • individual and social impact
  • some responses that may be offered by GPs.

The slides are on the Resource Kit CDROM under this topic. Trainers are encouraged to select and/or adapt this slide set to meet the focus of the training and information needs of their participants.

Activity

The activity complements the skill-based learning activities provided in other topics, especially those in B3: Clinical Process, and B5: Special Populations – Young People. The activity provides an opportunity for GPs to:

  • identify issues related to the use of volatile substances within the general practice context
  • identify relative benefits and harms related to volatile substance use
  • plan and implement harm reduction strategies specific to the use of volatile substances.

Handouts

1. DICH FactSheet: Inhalants

Drug Info Clearing House Inhalants,

2. Volatile Substances Fact sheet

NSW Health Drug Programs Bureau Volatile Substances [fact sheet], [accessed 28/5/2003].

3. Commonly Inhaled Volatile Substances

Goldfields South East Health Region. 2002, Management of Inhalants in the Goldfields - Industry Information Package. WA Country Health Service, Government of Western Australia, Kalgoorlie.

Please refer to the Resource Kit CDROM for a copy of handouts (in PDF and Word).


Resource Kit for GP Trainers on Illicit Drug Issues

Part B4 Drugs: Volatile Substances

Sources of Additional Information

Patient RESOURCES

Aboriginal Youth Net – Let’s Talk About Solvent Abuse,

NDARC (National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre) no date, Inhalants, Sydney.

Reachout Fact Sheets on Alcohol and Other Drugs,

Inhalants Fact Sheet,

Key Readings

ADAC (Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council SA Inc.) 2000, Petrol Sniffing and Other Solvents: A Resource Kit for Aboriginal Communities, ADAC, Adelaide,

Gray, D., Saggers, S., Hulse, G., & Atkinson, D. 2002, ‘An Approach to Substance Misuse Among Indigenous Australians’ in Hulse, G., White, J. & Cape. G. 2002, Management of Alcohol and Drug Problems, Oxford University Press, South Melbourne, pp. 310–327.

NCETA (National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction) 2003, Alcohol and Other Drugs: A Handbook for Health Professionals, Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, Canberra, pp.137–146.

Sellman, D., & Deering, D. 2002, ‘Adolescence’, in G. Hulse, J. White, & G. Cape (eds.) 2002, Management of Alcohol and Drug Problems, Oxford University Press, South Melbourne, p.275.

Additional Resources

Alliance of NSW Divisions of General Practice at

Dale, A. & Marsh, A. 2000, A Summary of the Evidence Based Practice Indicators for Alcohol and Other Drug Interventions, Best Practice in Alcohol and Other Drug Interventions Working Group,Perth, Western Australia.

Reid, P. [accessed 28/5/2003], Medical and Nursing Management of an Amyl Nitrite Overdose in Intensive Care,

See the Drug Info Clearing House at:
for key journal articles about inhalant use.

Volatile Substances

Activities

Activity 1: Identifying Issues

PURPOSE

To explore the physiological and social effects of the use of volatile substances, and to consider ways to assist the patient and carers with regards to use.

PROCESS

1.1Divide participants into small groups

1.2Provide them with Case Ben (below)

1.3Instruct participants to discuss the case, including:

  • how you may go about eliciting a history from Ben
  • issues that Ben and his mother may want to raise in the consultation
  • how you would respond to the concerns of both Ben and his mother
  • advice you might give Ben regarding future use
  • advice you might give Ben regarding his schooling, and legal and medical implications associated with his use

1.4Advise groups that they may qualify their responses by indicating what else they would like to know about the patient in reaching their decision

1.5Bring the groups back and discuss contributions. Facilitate common understandings and strategies.

CASE: Ben

You are a country GP, and have just seen Ben, a 13 year-old student who presented with his mother, a single working parent. She reported that Ben has recently developed nosebleeds and headaches, for which he pressures her to keep him home from school. She says that he is increasingly playing truant, and becoming more difficult for her to manage. His behaviour is beginning to impact on her work.

Ben’s history reveals he has a significant history of sniffing various paints and glues. He was recently caught for shoplifting and was given a warning as he knew the shop owner.

Resource Kit for GP Trainers on Illicit Drug Issues

Part B4 Drugs: Volatile Substances