Always wondered this I see posters in my school about it too
In: 10208
Permanent and rubber cement contain solvents such as toluene, acetone, or xylene which are volatile liquids at room temperature which means they can easily be absorbed by the lungs, pass through capillaries, and quickly enter the bloodstream. Since they’re small molecules, they can often pass the blood-brain barrier as well.
In the brain, these volatile solvents interfere with nerve signaling pathways (such as NDMA, nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, GABA, etc) which produce the immediate “high” when they affect certain areas associated with pleasure response, but also the side effects (headache, nausea, etc). Long-term use of solvents can actually cause permanent damage to these nerves through build up of high-concentrations and destruction of myelin.
Other inhalants—such as nitrous oxide—work similarly by temporarily interfering with cell receptors, but long-term deplete essential cofactor vitamins such as B12, which is also necessary for nerve function. So long term use can again cause permanent nerve damage, sensory loss, and paralysis, but through an additional mechanism.
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