What serious complication can result from inhalant abuse?

The serious complication that can result from inhalant abuse is "sudden sniffing death." This term refers to the potential for a person to experience fatal cardiac arrest following the inhalation of certain substances, such as solvents or gases found in common household products. The mechanism behind this dangerous outcome typically involves the inhalation causing arrhythmias or other acute heart problems, which can occur even in otherwise healthy individuals.

This risk makes inhalants particularly dangerous, as users may not be aware of the life-threatening consequences associated with their use. Furthermore, "sudden sniffing death" can occur after just one use, making its potential for harm significant. Other options, while they may present various health concerns associated with substance use, do not carry the same immediate and severe risk of sudden death linked to inhalants.