536 Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders
in Native Americans and lowest in African Americans. Prevalence falls to about 0.1% among
Americans ages 18–29 years, and only 0.02% when all Americans 18 years or older are con-
sidered, with almost no females and a prepon derance of European Am ericans. Of course,
in isolated subgroups, prevalence may di ffer considerably from  these overall rates. 
Development and Course
About 10% of 13-year-old American children re port having used inhalants at least once;
that percentage remains stable through age 17 years. Among those 12- to 17-year-olds who
use inhalants, the more-used substances includ e glue, shoe polish, or toluene; gasoline or
lighter fluid; or spray paints. 
Only 0.4% of 12- to 17-year-olds progress to  inhalant use disorder; those youths tend to
exhibit multiple other problems. The declining prevalence of inhalant use disorder after
adolescence indicates that this disorder  usually remits in early adulthood.
Volatile hydrocarbon use disorder is rare in prepubertal children, most common in ad-
olescents and young adults, and uncommon in older persons. Calls to poison-control cen-
ters for “intentional abuse” of inhalants peak with calls involving individuals at age 14 years.
Of adolescents who use inhalants, perhaps on e-fifth develop inhalant use disorder; a few
die from inhalant-related accide nts, or “sudden sniffing death”. But the disorder apparently
remits in many individuals after adolescence.  Prevalence declines dramatically among in-
dividuals in their 20s. Those with inhalant use disorder extending into adulthood often