White-matter abnormalities in adolescents with long-term inhalant and cannabis use: A diffusion magnetic resonance imaging study

Background: there is growing evidence that inhalants are neurotoxic to white matter,yet limited work has been conducted to investigate the neurobiologic effects of long-term exposure among adolescent users,despite inhalant use being most prominent during this developmental period. methods: we used diffusion tensor imaging to examine white-matter integrity in 11 adolescents who used inhalants,11 matched cannabis users and 8 drug-naive controls. results: although both groups of drug users had white-matter abnormalities (i.e.,lower fractional anisotropy),abnormalities were more pronounced in the inhalant group,particularly among early-onset users. limitations: the findings of this study should be considered in light of its small sample size,cross-sectional design and the complex psychosocial background of long-term inhalant users. conclusion: white-matter abnormalities may underpin long-term behavioural and mental health problems seen in individuals with long-term inhalant use. © 2010 canadian medical association.