Alcohol inhalation is becoming increasingly popular
Alcohol inhalation is the practice of inhaling alcohol rather than drinking it. Commercially available devices or other mechanical ways are used to aerosolize or vaporize the alcohol.
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Specific devices have been developed for alcohol inhalation
Some devices are nebulizers that transform alcohol into a mist that can be inhaled (e.g., alcohol-without-liquid [AWOL] devices). Others are branded as vaporizers that heat the alcohol solution, allowing users to inhale the vapour. Prices for devices vary from about $35 to several hundred dollars, with leading designers marketing appealing devices.
There is little evidence to support positive and negative claims
It is advertised that users can feel the effects of alcohol with fewer calories and no hangovers. However, these claims have not been substantiated. Although alcohol inhalation may not raise the blood alcohol level to the intoxication threshold1 (Keith Shelton, Virginia Commonwealth University: personal communication, 2014), there is a rapid increase in blood alcohol levels. Adverse effects are unknown and require further investigation.
The addictive potential is unknown
About 10% of women and 20% of men who drink alcohol will experience alcohol dependence.2 The faster a drug gets to the brain, the higher its addictive potential.3 Chronic alcohol inhalation through continuous exposure in a vapour chamber was found to be the most effective way to induce alcohol dependence in rodents.4
Alcohol inhalation devices are inconsistently regulated
Alcohol inhalation devices are prohibited in licensed establishments in many jurisdictions across North America, including Ontario.5 However, they are readily available online and in other countries.
Supplementary Material
Footnotes
Competing interests: None declared.
This article has been peer reviewed.
References
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