What can cause death in cases of inhalant overdose?

In cases of inhalant overdose, respiratory depression is a critical factor that can lead to death. Inhalants can depress the central nervous system, which affects the body's ability to breathe adequately. When respiratory function is compromised, it can lead to insufficient oxygen supply in the bloodstream, resulting in hypoxia. Without enough oxygen, vital organs and bodily functions begin to fail, causing significant risk of mortality.

While hypoxia is also a consequence of decreased respiratory function, it is the direct suppression of the respiratory drive that constitutes respiratory depression. Additionally, respiratory depression can happen rapidly and may not offer time for intervention, making it one of the most immediate and life-threatening effects of inhalant use. Other options such as severe agitation and cardiac arrest can occur in different contexts but are not as directly linked to the primary life-threatening mechanisms of inhalant overdoses as respiratory depression is.