HUFFING/DRINKING RUBBING ALCOHOL

[LISA559]

I AM NOW 21 YEARS OLD I AM ADDICTED TO ISOPROPYL RUBBING ALCOHOL I GO THRU ABOUT 1 AND A HALF BOTTLES A MONTH I LOVE THE SMELL AND I HUFF IT WHEN EVER I HAVE A CHANCE, I EVEN DRINK A TINY BIT BUT ITS MAINLY HUFFING WHAT I DO. I DONT KNOW WHY I JUST DO IT, ITS LIKE A DRUG TO ME! I FENE FOR IT AT TIMES I SNEAK AND DO IT, I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE I WAS 12 IM SURE ...WHAT DAMAGE IS THIS DOING TO ME? OR WHAT DAMAGE HAVE I DONE?

[iwooki]

Huffing not only damages the lungs, but when i worked as a nurse in a men's prison, i saw many men with the after affects of huffing. They had difficulty thinking, hands would shake uncontrollably, or other parts of the body would jerk. It affects the central nervous system, which affects every part of the body. And, nothing can change the damage that has been done. It only gets more damaging as the person gets older. No medicine can reverse the affects. It's a slow death sentence.

[star queen]

rubbing alcohol is a drying agent.  When you sniff the fumes, they enter the nose, mouth, and back of the throat and may enter the lungs drying out the mucus membranes.  Over time and continued use, some destruction of the membranes may occur in all these areas, including the lungs.  Once destruction of the lungs and accompaning bronchus have occured, it may never recover leaving you with some very severe upper respiratory disease.  See a doctor or check out rehab for this addiction before you compromise your life any more than you have.

[Hopelessat45]

After reading all these posts yours made the most sense with regards ro what happens when one huff’s.  I’m convinced that having anemia is a factor especially with craving it & for me it’s more like a way to relax from all the stress and anxiety. Not sure if rehab would be a better choice as I’m going on 20 plus years huffing alcohol and hand sanitizer

[Bluhel87]

It's been a while since my last post. But I'm back. To huffing alcohol and smelling it constantly. I had gone on dialysis in 2018, had a kidney transplant in May of 2021. I smelled it frequently while on dialysis, even more than while at work. I had a catheter placed in my stomach so I could do dialysis through my peritoneum but I used alcohol to keep the catheter clean every night and it was my time with the alcohol. I wasn't only experiencing pica from the anemia but I was addicted. I had access to it during work and every night I did dialysis. I loved the smell. After my transplant, I no longer craved alcohol. The smell was just too strong for me. I also sis not like chewing ice. It was so cold on my teeth it made them hurt. So, the conclusion is obviously that it was all from the anemia. Unfortunately, my kidney rejected in July of 2022 so I am back on dialysis. And I am back to chewing ice and sniffing alcohol. Its actually more than that. I will take a bottle of alcohol and pour some into the lid and snort it up my nose. I also hold the bottle under my nose and breathe in the vapors. I will also breathe the vapors in through my mouth as well. This never happened before but I have noticed since I started doing it again, that my fingers have become numb. It is awful. Right now I'm craving it but I have gone 2 whole days without smelling it. Hopefully I will be able to keep from smelling it. It is obviously causing some neurological damage. Wish me luck. And P.s. I also feel like it is more  of a relaxing agent now because when I am super stressed is when I crave it the most.

[Hopelessat45]

I do this as well
“I will take a bottle of alcohol and pour some into the lid and snort it up my nose. I also hold the bottle under my nose and breathe in the vapors. I will also breathe the vapors in through my mouth as well”
Not as frequent but when I feel most stressed & out of control. I wish you the best of luck on your dialysis journey & hope that we are able to push through this craving of inhaling rubbing alcohol

[Bluhel87]

I am now going on 3 days of no alcohol. Have you ever smelled it while you are nauseous because nurses will recommend you smelling alcohol swabs to helps nausea. I have never done this with my patients and honestly, I believe it is bad nursing practice. Fortunately I am not currently working because while the kidney was rejecting, I became incredibly ill. I am grateful for not being around it constantly. I so hope to find a cure for my kidney failure and type 1 diabetes through holistic practices. I have actually raised my hemoglobin by taking a type of enzyme.  I was referred to an oncologist and hemotologist for my blood and bone marrow because you get injections every time you do dialysis that are called EPOGEN. Epogen is a synthetic version of erythropoietin- the hormone responsible for the production of new red blood cells that the kidneys make but during renal failure your body does not make it. I was getting 60,000 units weekly which is a HUGE amount and I was also getting iron injections. Neither were working and the doctor must have thought I have cancer. I'm still seeing oncology due to some other issues he is very concerned about but the enzyme does help me. I am more able to refrain from the alcohol which I am grateful for. You may have some slight anemia as well considering there are several different kinds of anemia and causes for them. I am glad that things are getting better and I hope things are better for you as well. Thank you for your support because it really means so much to me. Most people tell me "it's just alcohol," so they dont understand it at all. I am also taking some supplements to help the nervous system so hopefully, all of thos can completely be behind me now.

[Hopelessat45]

Yes, nurses have given alcohol pads to inhale if nausea came about due to whatever the case at the time.
And no  it’s just not alcohol so your friends don’t quite understand the severity… but even with that understanding I still do it & hate myself for it every time I take a hit but the addiction is very real and it’s not even to get “ high” more so the effects of  kinda like weed I suppose since huffing the alcohol is like a depressant (I have read) which doesn’t justify anything by any means but it sure as hell doesn’t make me want to do it any less especially when a craving hits out of nowhere at times…& when that happens I know I have a problem. It’s sad really but these days I am trying to figure out what exactly triggers the need.. what trauma am I trying to resolve.. out of all the drugs why this one but most of all why I am hell bent on hurting myself. Continued prayers for you! & thanks for listening & being open about your struggles as well

[Freedom044]

I’m only replying to this comment because it’s the first one i see. I’ve always loved the smell of rubbing alcohol since i was younger. In 2021 I started huffing regularly by pouring rubbing alcohol on a rag and huffing until the smell is gone . I don’t do it because it gets me high it just makes me feel soooo relaxed and calm. Plus, it smells soooo good to me. My mouth is watering right now smh. It’s now 2024 and I’ve had ENOUGH. I’ve often visited this thread to help myself stop this dangerous addiction, but i kept making excuses. After constantly huffing and feeling stuck in this vicious cycle I’ve decided to stop. I don’t want to die over a $3.00 bottle of rubbing alcohol. My kids need me. I got so ashamed of going into my local store that i started ordering online. I was going through two 32oz 70% bottles every 2 weeks. Recently i started waking up with big bruises on my legs that could not be explained when asked about it, but I knew deep down why and that was my wake up call. It has been 5 days and i have not bought any rubbing alcohol and i REFUSE to bring that stuff back into my home. There is hope and I’ve found so much comfort in this forum. PLEASE PUT THE R.A DOWN IT IS NOT WORTH YOUR LIFE!!! ❤️

[bobby1982hunt]

That’s weak ! one and a half to two a month ?
3days=bottle
& 51% by volume.bottle

[Bluhel87]

I haven't really smelled any here for a while. I do every now and again when I am in the bathroom but not much anymore.. So, you go through a bottle every 3 days? How is that affecting you?

[dominosarah]

Hi .Bluhel87 and welcome to the forum.  I read your post and am hoping you will start your own thread.  If you go to the top of the page it will say Ask a Question and that way you will have your own thread started as the one you posted on is an old one.  We are here to help you get thru this.

[Bluhel87]

I started huffing alcohol here recently. Probably this last month or so. At first I just really enjoyed the smell. For my household cleaning I use a 50-50 concoction of 91% rubbing alcohol and ammonia due to its disinfectant properties. I noticed that the smell is very strong but it didn't really bother me over time. I actually found myself cleaning everything with it eventually.  I am in the health profession and we also use the SaniWipes. They are very strong and I use them to clean everything now. I will clean the same counter over and over again just to have the smell linger and I will also hold them to my nose and breathe deeply. I have also started huffing the hand sanitizer that we use at work. I won't soak cotton balls in the alcohol but I will pour a tiny but into a cup and swish it around with my face over the cup. It smells so good to me that even sometimes I am tempted to take a swig. (don't have the courage to do that though). About three months ago I started eating Ice like crazy. I'm telling you like 3-4 stops at sonic every day for a Route 44 cup of their delicious crushed ice. Both of these are PICA. I am in severe renal failure which causes very severe anemia. I have narrowed this down to my cravings for both alcohol and ice since I never had these cravings three months ago. But here recently I have been on injections to raise my blood count and when they start wearing off is when the cravings are the worst. I just started doing this recently and I am afraid of the repercussions. I want to stop but until I get a new kidney, the anemia will stay with me. Any suggestions on how to deal with this? I am a nurse so I can't get away from alcohol. I mean it's literally all around me but it would be nice to not want to huff it. I have started having a burning sensation in my throat since I started and I feel like this is the beginning of a very ugly addiction. I love alcohol because it kills germs and I would like to continue  properly using it for those benefits, but I don't want to want to huff if anytime I smell the vapors. Encouragement is much needed since Iron supplements don't help renal failure induced anemia. :(

[99percent]

I started this habit from liking the smell of listerine. I then started warming it up a
little to get the evaporation smoke to huff. I realized after doing that a couple of times that it didn't work anymore, there was no smell. I discovered at point that it was the alcohol ingredient I liked. I started buying 70% isopropyl, then warming it up to huff it. After a hour I would get hungry and fall asleep. I stopped for a couple years and now over the last couple of months I started back. This time it started with these Sani -wipes I use to clean at work. The wipes contain alcohol but they are extremely strong. You can smell them from 100 feet away. I would hold it in my hand to warm it and make it stronger. I got up to 5 wipes at a time folded up until I found the 91 %. isopropyl. I've gotten to the point where I do it in public because it looks like I'm blowing my nose with tissue. It doesn't get me high, it just calms me.  I really want to stop because it is effecting my sense of smell.

I'm happy I found this site because I just found out a couple weeks ago that I have low hemoglobin(Anemia) and I was put on iron pills. I stopped huffing the isopropyl for almost 2 weeks but I thought that the cravings just stopped like in the past. I stopped my iron pills a couple day ago because they were making me nausea. I also started back huffing yesterday. I had no idea the two problems were related. Now I'm guessing that if I start taking the iron pills once a day again the cravings will go away. I didn't think it was pica because it doesn't list isopropyl alcohol but then again it's not something people want to admit to. I know I hadn't told Anyone!!! I was getting to the point where I was self conscious to buy it at the stores. One time I found the 99 % and I was trying to think of a lie to tell the cashier if she asked why I was buying this 12.00 bottle of rubbing alcohol. I'm done huffing this stuff. I don't want to die from this, I'm too young for that. I usually don't write much on the internet but I just hopes this helps someone else because the previous post helped me. Thank You all for being honest. :-)

[jessmcd10]

I have sniffed alcohol pad for 7yrs. I buy 3 boxes a week. I love the smell. I will not be found with out them on me. I don't know what it is but I smell them all the time. I started doing it when I was pregnant. It help with nausea.

[25andLost]

You said you started when you was pregnant. Did your baby come out in good health??

[binky1955]

Not to scare you, but the swelling sounds like liver failure. My ex husband who passed away a few months ago from liver failure had all the same symptoms. If this is the case you may be looking at liver transplant.

[Shalanda6]

Iron Suppliments, NOW.  ALL OF YOU.

It is called PICA.  Please, Google it.

<3
<3
<3

[25andLost]

How would a iron supplement stop the urges of wanting to Snuff alcohol??

[Queenbre]

Hello I stopped like three weeks ago and I am having horrible swelling in my stomach, legs, feet and ankles. I'm really scared. I started with hand sanitizer, then 70%, nail polish remover, Lysol and back to 91%. I could go through two big bottles a week and I could not wait until edit me because I knew I would have my privacy then.  I tried telling some people as a cry for help but others don't really know how real it is. I'm praying the swelling will run its course, but if not I'm going to the doctor. I'm too embarrassed o say what I have been doing for over 5 years. Everyone please stop, we are killing ourselves.  I'm praying for each person on this page for healing from the habit and healing of your bodies. Blessed

[drpy]

I am 16 and I sniffed and drank rubbing alcohol for about a year and a half. I thought about getting help and even told my a couple of my friends. What helped me stop drinking and sniffing it was getting it out of my house. The only way I thought I could do that of course was drinking it all so I did that. I never experienced severe reactions to it but I knew I had to stop. So I know I'm only a teen but to all you adult suffering from this just get it out of the house and stop buying it. Of course you are still going to have cravings for it but it's really not good for you. Not saying I'm doing any better I mean I eat paper like there is no tomorrow but I think drinking alcohol is alto worse. So yeah just get it out of the house.

[Darlingniki18]

Oh my goodness!! I eat paper (which has now evolved to toilet paper) and have an addiction to sniffing rubbing alcohol too. There has got to be a correlation! I don&#39;t understand it.i smoke cigarettes and I mix the 3. When I smoke cigarettes it makes me crave the taste of toilet paper which in turn makes me crave rubbing alcohol and it makes my mouth water.  It has been getting progressively worse and I have been doing it since my first pregnancy 9 years ago.  I don&#39;t understand what causes it. I am ashamed of it, and I hide it from my fiance and friends. Sometimes id rather be alone most of the time and miss out on things cause I&#39;d rather be at home alone to sniff my rubbing alcohol an eat my tp.

[Scaredstraight32]

Have you experienced any other side effects or talked to your Doctor about it? I am just wondering as I had done it off and on for years. I have not done it in over 3 years. Now that I know how dangerous it is I have severe anxiety about the damage I may have done to my body. Just trying to find out what symptoms people that have done it for a long time are experiencing after inhaling rubbing alcohol over the years. I too am anemic and associate the love of the smell that I had to low iron. Any older inhalers feel free to chime in with your symptoms. If you are young and old please try and quit. Talk to your doctor and have our vitamin levels checked. This can really help pinpoint the issue and lead you to the road to recovery.

[gratefulozzie401]

Hi to everyone
today ive been sniffing alcohol wipes for approx 7 years on a regular basis , i am a kidney patient and it started when i began my treaments , its hard to avoid the product because its issued along with my normal supplies and i am very fond of the sensation sorry extremely fond that is .
i am 40 yrs now and i am inspired by you all to STOP !! i was going through periods of ignoring the best advice and doing it because i loved the buzz , i am going to change it from now on NO MORE !!! and i would like to thank you all i was too embrrassed to speak about it to anyone . you all have inspired me thank you
Grateful

[joesphine113]

my mom use to sniff rubbing alcohol and now she is forgetting simple stuff like the bathroom, bedroom, and who is her oldest brother or sister is. For her youngest daughter I have to watch this as she gets worse.  Don't sniff ribbing alcohol, it does kill your brain sales

[yolo210]

damn gurl im the same way i wish i could find the 99% ive always just smelled the 91% since i was about 14 im about to be 20 but its addicting and my boyfriend dosent know either only some friends and ive even got them addicted to smelling it to idk y its hard to stop i just got to smell it evryday i go through 2 bottles a week

[lorena1125]

i was in the same problem i am 24 and i have 3 boys and i was addicted but i just stoped all together i went crazy but it was worth it i was prrego with my 3 child drinking rubbing alcohol and i found out he was born early for my habbits so i up and stoped now i am prego with my baby girl and im so happy im not doing it any more. and i also had cervical cancer with a leep it was taking care of. i wounder if alcohol has something to do with it...

[sherl116]

Hi! Dave 3147  My name sherl I to i like to inhaled rubbing alcohol when i was 22 yrs. i'm 48 and still do it . i'm on a kidney machine that's when i stated inhailing alcohol it stated with the hand sanitizers . i have been on the kidney machine since 1986 to know. I to i'm oxygen 24/7 i don't know how to stop. If you have any ideas .

[Addicted2long]

Wtf is wrong wit u don't so that **** your killing yourself!

[Meme0212]

What if your drinking it all the time?

[kyle505]

Sorry. Just re read my post. After all these years I'm still mad at him. Didn't mean to dump on you.

[kyle505]

I do know about the long-term damage. My father died huffing and drinking it. He made it to 41. Stop it now. Unless you have no family or anyone who cares for you. Its crap. don't be stupid.

[ImDONENoMore]

How do you accidentally drink 100-150 ml?  For that matter, how do you accidentally drink anything?  I'm confused.

[hellowyellow]

take him to the hospital call 911 and poison control. I accidently drank about 100-150 ml yesterday. Im fine and I called for help. They almost didnt believe me but they said not to worry. Im still worried but if im still alive tomorrow then im very happy and furtunate/blessed