Kolla and inhalantsWhat are they, and how do they affect the body and brain?

11What are kolla and inhalants?

Inhalants are a broad group of chemicals that turn into vapors at room temperature. They are not made to be used as drugs at all; they are ingredients in everyday products used in homes, workshops and factories.

"Kolla" is the popular name in Egypt for adhesive glues, and it has come to refer to the practice of inhaling their fumes in general. Some are also known by a common brand name, "Selsion". But the problem is not limited to glues; it includes any product that contains volatile solvents or gases.

What makes inhalants different from other substances is that they are not drugs in the traditional sense: they are available in almost every home, they are cheap, and many parents do not realize they can be a danger to their children.

12What types of inhalants are there?

Doctors group inhalants into broad categories according to their chemical nature. We list them here only to help families stay alert:

13How do inhalants affect the brain and body?

Inhaled vapors reach the lungs and then the blood and brain within seconds, because they dissolve easily in fat and the brain is rich in fat. There they slow the activity of the nervous system in a way similar to alcohol or anesthetic agents:

• At first: dizziness, a brief high and loss of inhibition, with slurred speech and poor balance.
• After a few minutes: confusion, drowsiness and headache, and hallucinations may appear.
• With continued use: the person may lose consciousness, breathing may weaken and the heart rhythm may be disturbed.
• In the long term: solvents damage the fatty sheath that surrounds nerve fibers, affecting thinking, movement, hearing and vision.

Because the high is very short and fades within minutes, the person repeats the inhalation several times in a row, and this repetition is what raises the risk of loss of consciousness, suffocation and oxygen deprivation.

Inhalants are seen as the "poor man's drug" and as less harmful, but they are in fact among the most dangerous substances of all, because they can kill within the first minutes with no warning.

14What is sudden sniffing death?

It is known medically as "sudden sniffing death syndrome". Some inhalants make the heart muscle extremely sensitive to adrenaline, so if the person experiences a sudden emotional shock while under the effect, such as a fright, running or being chased, the heart rhythm can become fatally disturbed and the heart can stop.

This can happen to a completely healthy young person the first time they try it, and it is a leading cause of inhalant-related deaths. That is why we always advise not to frighten or chase anyone suspected of being under the influence, but to deal with them calmly.

15Why are inhalants common among children and teenagers?

Studies around the world indicate that inhalants are among the first substances young people may try, often at the start of adolescence, for the following reasons:

• They are available at home, at school and in workshops, and do not cost much.
• They are not seen as "drugs", so there is less fear of them.
• Peer pressure, curiosity and the wish to belong to a group.
• Escape from hunger, cold, violence or sadness, especially among children in difficult circumstances.
• Lack of supervision and long periods of free time.

In Egypt, United Nations reports have noted that inhalants top the list of substances used by street children, who often turn to them to endure hunger, pain and violence. These children are victims who need protection, care and treatment, not stigma or punishment.

16Inhalants compared with alcohol and other substances

The danger rises sharply when inhalants are combined with any other depressant, such as alcohol or sedatives, because the suppression of breathing and consciousness is multiplied.

17Common myths about kolla and inhalants

Correcting these ideas within the family and school is one of the most important means of prevention, because many children try it simply because they do not know how great the danger is.

18The legal status of inhalants in Egypt

Products containing solvents, adhesives and gases are legitimate products sold for their original purposes in homes and industry, and they are not banned in themselves. But misusing them by inhaling is a serious health hazard, and where children are concerned the response comes first from a standpoint of protection and care. A child in danger can be reported through the Child Helpline 16000, or treatment can be sought confidentially through the hotline of the Fund for Drug Control and Treatment of Addiction, 16023.

This is general educational information and not legal advice.

19The kolla and inhalants guide: everything you need to know

We have gathered everything about kolla and inhalants into 3 pages, each answering one question in detail. Choose what you are looking for:

20How do you protect your children from inhalants?

1. Keep chemical products with a strong smell in a closed place away from children, and watch for unexplained shortages.
2. Talk to your children early and in simple language: these substances are toxic and can stop the heart even from a single use.
3. Get to know their friends and where they spend their free time, and encourage them to take part in sports and arts activities.
4. Watch for early signs such as a chemical smell, or stains or a rash around the nose and mouth.
5. If you discover use, do not frighten or chase the child. Talk to them calmly and ask for a specialist assessment.
6. Contact the school, since the teacher and the social worker are partners in prevention and early detection.