F18.10
BillableInhalant abuse, uncomplicated
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 138 — Drug Use Disorder/Substance Use Disorder, Mild
0.476V24HCC 56 — Drug/Alcohol Abuse, Without Dependence
0.000ESRDHCC 56 — Drug/Alcohol Abuse, Without Dependence
0.000What This Code Means
A person is abusing inhalant substances (like glue, paint thinner, or aerosols) without any additional complications or symptoms.
Coding Tips
- •Use this code when inhalant abuse is documented without intoxication, withdrawal, or other specified conditions
- •Verify documentation clearly states 'abuse' rather than 'dependence' to ensure correct code selection
Clinical Significance
Inhalant abuse captures a pattern of maladaptive use of volatile substances (glue, paint thinner, aerosols, gasoline, nitrous oxide) without meeting full dependence criteria. Inhalant abuse is particularly dangerous due to risk of sudden sniffing death syndrome, cardiac arrhythmias, and irreversible neurotoxicity even with short-term use.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Provider documentation using the term 'abuse' (not 'use' or 'dependence')
- ✓Type of inhalant when known (volatile solvents, aerosols, gases, nitrites)
- ✓Documentation that the condition is uncomplicated — no intoxication, withdrawal, or induced disorders
- ✓Substance abuse screening results (CAGE-AID, DAST)
- ✓Assessment of organ damage (cardiac, hepatic, renal, neurologic)
Commonly Confused Codes
F18.20 — Inhalant dependence, uncomplicated; dependence requires loss of control, tolerance, or withdrawalF18.11 — Inhalant abuse, in remission; use when the patient has stopped usingF18.120 — Inhalant abuse with intoxication; use when currently intoxicatedF18.90 — Inhalant use, unspecified; less specific, does not capture abuse diagnosis
Code Hierarchy
└F18Inhalant related disorders└F18.1Inhalant abuse└F18.10Inhalant abuse, uncomplicated
└F18.10Inhalant abuse, uncomplicated