(Names have been changed to protect the privacy of our patients.)

Kristofer, 26, came to the Amen Clinics because he was experiencing a number of problems. In talking with him, we learned that he had become addicted to inhalants. Kristofer’s SPECT scan showed that his addiction to inhalants had seriously harmed his brain.

After looking at more than 55,000 brain scans, I have found that inhaling organic solvents is the worst drug of abuse for brain function. You will understand why when you look at Kristofer’s SPECT scan.

Other researchers have come to the same conclusion. A 1998 study from Korean researchers in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine used SPECT imaging to scan the brain of a 17-year-old man who was addicted to inhaling toluene. Toluene is a chemical solvent commonly used in paint thinners, glue, lacquers, disinfectants, and other household products.

The 17-year-old, who had been inhaling toluene for eight months, was admitted to the hospital with hallucinations. He underwent a number of brain scans, including MRI and SPECT. It is interesting to note that on the MRI study, his brain looked normal and showed no signs of trouble. The SPECT scans, however, showed decreased blood flow in several areas, which explained his symptoms. The researchers concluded that SPECT imaging could be beneficial in detecting central nervous system injuries when other brain tests appeared normal.

Kristofer—inhalant addiction

Inhalants are terrible for your brain. Stay away from them and make sure you have great ventilation whenever you are painting or using chemicals.