Many parents are knowledgeable and concerned about tobacco and alcohol, as well as illicit drugs such as marijuana, and cocaine. Often, they are not as familiar with the dangers posed to their children from common household products containing volatile aerosols or solvents. These include glues, nail polish remover, spray paint, paint thinner, hair spray, marking pens, butane lighter fluid, gasoline, typewriter correction fluid, canned whipped cream, cleaning fluids, and air conditioning coolants. Many young people look to these sources for quick intoxication, without knowing about the serious health consequences that can result, inhaling the products to induce a psychoactive\u00a0effect.<\/p>\n
Surveys indicate that more than 12.5 million Americans have abused inhalants at least once in their lives. The National Institute on Drug Abuse\u2019s \u201cMonitoring the Future\u201d study revealed that about 20% of eighth graders have abused inhalants, one of the few substances abused more by younger children than by older\u00a0ones.<\/p>\n
Many youth report they start sniffing because they don\u2019t believe these substances can hurt them, and because of peer pressure or low self-esteem. Once hooked, they find it a tough and difficult habit to break. Inhaled chemicals are quickly absorbed through the lungs into the bloodstream and distributed to the brain and other organs. Within minutes, users experience intoxication along with alcohol-like effects that include slurred speech, lack of physical coordination, dizziness, and euphoria. Intoxication lasts only a few minutes, so abusers frequently want to prolong the high by continuing to inhale over a period of several\u00a0hours.<\/p>\n
What many youth don\u2019t know is that even a single session of repeated inhalant abuse can cause death. Prolonged sniffing can induce irregular and rapid heart rhythms and lead to heart failure and death within minutes. This syndrome, known as\u00a0sudden sniffing death<\/em>, can result from a single session use by a generally healthy person. Inhalant abuse can induce death due to asphyxiation, suffocation, choking, or fatal injuries occurring as a result of\u00a0intoxification.<\/p>\n Early identification and intervention are important in order to stop abuse before serious health consequences result. Parents, teachers, physicians, and others can help if they are aware of these possible signs of a serious inhalant abuse\u00a0problem:<\/p>\n There are many national, statewide and local efforts aimed at preventing inhalant abuse.\u00a0Partnership for a Drug-Free America<\/strong>\u00a0and the\u00a0White House Office of National Drug Control Policy<\/strong>\u00a0(ONDCP) have brought more public attention to inhalant issues through their television, radio, and print ads. ONDCP spent $25 million on a recent campaign and also partnered with the\u00a0American Academy of Pediatrics<\/strong>\u00a0to conduct a roundtable meeting in New York aimed at educating the media about inhalant issues. The\u00a0Center for Substance Abuse Treatment<\/strong>\u00a0held a summit to develop a comprehensive national approach to inhalant abuse prevention, intervention, treatment and\u00a0research.<\/p>\n Locally, the\u00a0Texas Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition<\/strong>\u00a0organizes an inhalants conference annually. Over 150 professionals attended a recent program, \u201cThe Invisible Threat.\u201d Isabel Burk, Director of the New York-based\u00a0Health Network<\/strong>\u00a0addressed the prevention of inhalant abuse, including personal safety, environmental safety and poison control. Techniques Burk has found effective include talking to children about reading labels, following directions, using safety precautions, and understanding appropriate vocabulary. Several local parents whose children were victims of sudden sniffing death spoke to the participants. Most everyone agreed that Mr. John Authers, whose 10-year-old daughter Casey died last year after huffing, said it best: \u201cRemember, almost every bathroom has a can of air freshener and a lock on the door. Our children are very precious. We need to know or at least be aware of some, if not all, of the dangers they face every\u00a0day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
\n\n
\n \n