Inhalants
Timeline
| 800 BCE - 392 CE | Oracle at Delphi inhales what are believed to have been Ethylene vapors from fissures in the rock beneath the temple. The oracle would enter a "trance" or even "frenzy"and answer questions or make prophesies. 1 [More Info] | |
| 1275 | Ether was discovered by Spanish chemist Raymundus Lullius and named "sweet vitriol" 2 | |
| 1772 | Nitrous Oxide gas first discovered by English scientist Joseph Priestley. [Details] | |
| 1831-1832 | Chloroform was discovered independently by three scientists: Samuel Guthrie, Justus von Liebig, and Eugene Soubeiran. Originally it was used as a treatment for asthma. | |
| c. 1840 | Ether is used as a social lubricant during parties called "Ether Frolics". | |
| Late 1940s | First known outbreak of gasoline sniffing in Warren, Pennsylvania. 3 | |
| 1950s | Reports of many cases of deliberate inhalation of gasoline fumes by young people in the United States, Australia, India and Great Britain. [More Info] | |
| 1959 | Earliest known references to glue-sniffing in either medical or popular literature. 4 [Details] | |
| 1960s | An increasing number of newspaper articles report adolescents sniffing airplane glue. 3 | |
| 1960 | The FDA eliminates the prescription status of alkyl nitrites, making it available over the counter. | |
| 1961 - 1965 | Glue sniffing epidemic in Denver. The epidemic may have been caused by hyperbolic media reports about the activity. Reports of glue sniffing soon spread to other U.S. cities like New York and Salt Lake City. 4 | |
| Jun 6, 1962 | First known law against glue sniffing is passed in Anaheim, California. 4 [Details] | |
| Jun 28, 1962 | First peer-reviewed journal article on recreational glue sniffing appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association. 5 | |
| c. 1967 | Increasing reports of the recreational inhalation of aerosol products. 4 | |
| 1968 | 13 states and 29 counties and municipalities have passed anti glue sniffing legislation. 4 | |
| 1969 | The FDA reinstates the prescription status of amyl nitrite. Rumors suggest this was done in part because its maker was concerned about recreational use among homosexuals and how that might impact their image. | |
| Oct 1, 1970 | US BNDD reports that "sniffing of ballpoint pen ink, deodorants, decongestants, spot removers, or spray-on foot powder is on the increase". 6 [Details] | |
| 1977 | Butyl nitrite sales exceed $50 million per year according to the Wall Street Journal | |
| 1980 | The last recorded anesthetic use of chloroform is administered, in Edinburgh, Scotland. 7 [Details] | |
| 1981 | FDA issues an official statement regarding nitrite odorants, stating that no regulations or restrictions are necessary because of the "absence of demonstrable hazard". |
References
- Broad WJ. "Fumes and Visions Were Not a Myth for Oracle at Delphi". New York Times. Mar 19, 2002.
- Anesthesia Nursing and Medicine Web Page
- Glowa JR. The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Drugs: Inhalants. Chelsea House, 1986.
- Brecher EM, and the Editors of Consumer Reports Magazine. "How to launch a nationwide drug menace". Licit and Illicit Drugs. 1972.
- Glaser HH, Massengale ON. "Glue-Sniffing in Children". JAMA. Jul 28, 1962;Vol 181:301.
- Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. Microgram. Oct 1970;3(6):174.
- Altman LK. Who Goes First?: The Story of Self-Experimentation in Medicine. University of California Press. 1998. p.66.