Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy (NVCJA) Practice Exam

What defines the act of inhaling drugs or noxious substances?

1. Ingesting them orally

2. Deliberately smelling or inhaling them

3. Injecting them into the body

4. Consuming them in food

The correct answer is: Deliberately smelling or inhaling them

The act of inhaling drugs or noxious substances is defined by deliberately smelling or inhaling them. This process involves drawing substances into the lungs through the nose or mouth, allowing them to enter the bloodstream rapidly due to the large surface area of the lung tissue. Inhaling can lead to quick effects due to the direct absorption of substances into the circulation. In contrast, ingesting substances orally refers to consuming them through the mouth, which involves digestion and can take longer to produce effects. Injecting substances involves using a syringe to deliver them directly into the bloodstream or tissues, which is a different route entirely. Consuming substances in food also refers to oral ingestion but in combination with other substances, which changes the absorption dynamics. Therefore, the correct definition of inhaling drugs or noxious substances specifically points to the act of deliberately inhaling them.