2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code F18.9

Inhalant use, unspecified

ICD-10-CM Code:
F18.9
ICD-10 Code for:
Inhalant use, unspecified
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Mental and behavioural disorders
    (F01–F99)
    • Mental and behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance use
      (F10-F19)
      • Inhalant related disorders
        (F18)

F18.9 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of inhalant use, unspecified. The code is not specific and is NOT valid for the year 2024 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions. Category or Header define the heading of a category of codes that may be further subdivided by the use of 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th characters.

Unspecified diagnosis codes like F18.9 are acceptable when clinical information is unknown or not available about a particular condition. Although a more specific code is preferable, unspecified codes should be used when such codes most accurately reflect what is known about a patient's condition. Specific diagnosis codes should not be used if not supported by the patient's medical record.

Specific Coding Applicable to Inhalant use, unspecified

Non-specific codes like F18.9 require more digits to indicate the appropriate level of specificity. Consider using any of the following ICD-10-CM codes with a higher level of specificity when coding for inhalant use, unspecified:

  • Use F18.90 for Inhalant use, unspecified, uncomplicated - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use F18.91 for Inhalant use, unspecified, in remission - BILLABLE CODE

  • F18.92 for Inhalant use, unspecified with intoxication - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use F18.920 for Inhalant use, unspecified with intoxication, uncomplicated - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use F18.921 for Inhalant use, unspecified with intoxication with delirium - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use F18.929 for Inhalant use, unspecified with intoxication, unspecified - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use F18.94 for Inhalant use, unspecified with inhalant-induced mood disorder - BILLABLE CODE

  • F18.95 for Inhalant use, unspecified with inhalant-induced psychotic disorder - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use F18.950 for Inhalant use, unspecified with inhalant-induced psychotic disorder with delusions - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use F18.951 for Inhalant use, unspecified with inhalant-induced psychotic disorder with hallucinations - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use F18.959 for Inhalant use, unspecified with inhalant-induced psychotic disorder, unspecified - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use F18.97 for Inhalant use, unspecified with inhalant-induced persisting dementia - BILLABLE CODE

  • F18.98 for Inhalant use, unspecified with other inhalant-induced disorders - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use F18.980 for Inhalant use, unspecified with inhalant-induced anxiety disorder - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use F18.988 for Inhalant use, unspecified with other inhalant-induced disorder - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use F18.99 for Inhalant use, unspecified with unspecified inhalant-induced disorder - BILLABLE CODE

Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries

The following annotation back-references are applicable to this diagnosis code. The Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries is a list of ICD-10-CM codes, organized "head to toe" into chapters and sections with coding notes and guidance for inclusions, exclusions, descriptions and more.


Type 1 Excludes

Type 1 Excludes
A type 1 excludes note is a pure excludes note. It means "NOT CODED HERE!" An Excludes1 note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as the code above the Excludes1 note. An Excludes1 is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.

Patient Education


Inhalants

What are inhalants?

Inhalants are substances that people inhale (breathe in) to get high. There are other substances that people might inhale, such as alcohol. But those are not called inhalants, because they can also be used another way. Inhalants are the substances that you can misuse only by inhaling them.

Using inhalants to try to get high, even once, can be very harmful to your brain and body. It can even lead to death.

What are the types of inhalants?

Inhalants are often products that are easily bought and can be found in the home or workplace. They contain dangerous substances that have psychoactive (mind-altering) properties when they are inhaled. There are four main types of inhalants are:

  • Solvents, which are liquids that become gas at room temperature. They include paint thinner, nail polish remover, gasoline, and glue.
  • Aerosol sprays, such as spray paint, deodorant spray, and vegetable oil sprays
  • Gases, including gas from lighters, whipped cream dispensers, and laughing gas
  • Nitrites (prescription medicines for chest pain)

Some of the common slang terms for various inhalants include:

  • Bold
  • Laughing gas
  • Poppers
  • Rush
  • Snappers
  • Whippets

How do people use inhalants?

People who use inhalants breathe in the fumes through their nose or mouth, usually by "sniffing," "snorting," "bagging," or "huffing." It's called different names depending on the substance and equipment used.

The high that inhalants produce usually lasts just a few minutes, so people often try to make it last by inhaling them again and again over several hours.

Who uses inhalants?

Inhalants are mostly used by young kids and teens. They often try inhalants before they try other substances because inhalants are easier to get.

What are the signs that someone is using inhalants?

Signs that someone is using inhalants include:

  • Chemical odors on breath or clothing
  • Paint or other stains on face, hands, or clothes
  • Hidden empty spray paint or solvent containers and chemical-soaked rags or clothing
  • Red or runny eyes or nose
  • Drunk or disoriented appearance
  • Slurred speech
  • Nausea or loss of appetite
  • Inattentiveness, lack of coordination, irritability, and depression

What are the health effects of using inhalants?

Most inhalants affect your central nervous system and slow down brain activity. Inhalants can cause both short-term and long-term health effects:

  • Short-term health effects include slurred or distorted speech, lack of coordination, euphoria (feeling "high"), dizziness, and hallucinations
  • Long-term health effects may include liver and kidney damage, loss of coordination, limb spasms, delayed behavioral development, and brain damage

Using inhalants, even once, could lead to an overdose. This can cause you to have seizures or your heart to stop. It can also be deadly.

Are inhalants addictive?

Addiction to inhalants is rare, but it can happen if you use them repeatedly. Stopping them can cause withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, problems sleeping, and mood changes.

Behavioral therapy may help people who are addicted to inhalants.

Can inhalant misuse be prevented?

To try to prevent inhalant abuse, parents should talk to their children about it. They should discuss the dangers of inhalants and how to deal with peer pressure if someone asks them to try it.

NIH: National Institute on Drug Abuse


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History

  • FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
  • FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
  • FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
  • FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
  • FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
  • FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
  • FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
  • FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
  • FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.