Question 1: Are the following assumptions about the DSM-5 term 'inhalant' correct?:

  • does not describe a specific class of drugs defined in terms of molecular structure and/or mechanism of action
  • does not include drugs that are heated to inhale,  burned to smoke, or crushed to snort
  • includes only substances that are gases (volatile) at room temperature
  • includes only psycho-active substances - i.e., excludes drugs that exert their effects primarily via toxicity/cell damage v altering neural activity
  • includes pharmaceutical agents (e.g., nitrous oxide)
  • has the same meaning as the term 'volatile inhalant' used in ICD-11

Question 2:  Does a clinician diagnose a substance-induced mental disorder if the exposure to the substance is unintentional  - e.g., environmental or work-related exposure to fumes; atypical reaction to pharmaceutical agent used in the context of health care?

Thanks,

Piper