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Real Teens Ask: Can inhaling Sharpie markers make you high?
14 Comments 
Lots of kids have questions about drugs. That’s why each year, NIDA scientists spend a day chatting online with high school students and answering their questions.
At our last Drug Facts Chat Day, mmmegan asked:
“can inhaling sharpies make you high?!?!?!”
According to NIDA’s scientists, the answer is yes. Permanent markers contain chemicals called solvents. When inhaled, these solvents can produce a “high.” Like alcohol, inhalants (including Sharpies) can cause slurred speech, lack of coordination, euphoria, and dizziness. Unfortunately, the chemicals that cause these effects can also make you sick, kill your brain cells, and damage your nerves.
Some people think inhalants aren’t “real drugs” because a lot of them are sold in grocery stores—stuff like cleaners, glue, and markers. Household products are safe, if you use them like you’re supposed to. But that doesn’t mean they’re okay to inhale! I mean, you wouldn’t drink drain cleaner, or squirt bug spray in your mouth, would you? The chemicals in inhalants can be very dangerous, especially to kids. It’s rare, but some kids have even died after a single session of inhaling chemical fumes. So it’s really true that inhalants can kill you.
You can read more real questions from kids at our NIDA Drug Facts Chat Day transcripts. And you can get more information on inhalants at NIDA’s website.
Sara is super cool
Why, thank you, Rubs!
I cannot believe this will work!
Sometimes it’s really that simple, isn’t it? I feel a little stupid for not thinking of this myself/earlier, though.
Great idea, but will this work over the long run?
i got high off a sharpie one time, will i be okay? i dont do it anymore
Hi Joe,
Thanks for the comment. This is a question we get fairly frequently. It’s great that you don’t do that anymore. From what I’ve read Sharpies are safe for use under normal conditions (like writing on things) but they do contain chemicals that should not be inhaled intentionally. Inhalants can cause some pretty nasty effects, especially when they’re done over long periods of time. Making a decision to not do that again was a good one. Here’s a link to more info on inhalants: http://www.nida.nih.gov/DrugPages/Inhalants.html
Hrm, this is quite interesting. My thoughts were always that, “If I ‘huff’ markers, and do so in small doses and few occasions, it will cause very little if any damage to my brain cells.” The few times where people die would be the times where they spend excessive amounts of time “huffing”, generally without tolerance to it.
Also, in the opening to this article you state that it “can” cause brain damage such as dying cells. Are there instances where it cannot?
Yes, it does work. although it is not that great since i have done it, but only cause it is easy to access
Hi Justin, to answer your last question we use the word “can” a lot at NIDA because we want to be true to what the science is telling us. So while it could be possible or even highly likely for a certain effect to occur chances are it won’t happen all the time, so we say “can”. That said why take the chance by doing something that could be harmful? As to your other question about huffing in small amounts….because we’re all so different in terms of our genetic make up, our tolerances to substances, and other factors it’s difficult to say at exactly what point a substance will become dangerous for a specific individual. Again, why take the risk? Finally, using drugs impacts judgment so a person might miscalculate how much they’ve used while using (even ’small’ amounts)….most people don’t plan to overdose…they miscalculate how much they can use…..sometimes because they’re high and don’t realize how much they’re using and sometimes they’re using drugs that are more potent than what they’re accustomed to and they don’t realize it. Again why take the risk?
wow just the littlest off things can get you high
i sniff but imma stop real soon yeaterdAY I had a craving does that count as withdrawl… i was shaking and couldn’t sit still
can u get addicted?
yep, in 2008 according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health 97,000 youth in the U.S. 12 to 17 met “abuse or dependence criteria” for inhalants (meaning they were addicted).