More Teens Abusing Inhalants CNN Health Reuters March 22, 2005

What Are Inhalants? Inhalants are volatile chemical drugs (such as nitrous oxide) or non-drugs (such as paint thinners or model airplane glue) that are breathed in and affect the brain in ways similar to CNS depressants. Abuse of inhalants warrants more attention because many of these products are legal, easy to obtain, and therefore more accessible to youngsters.

Information and Statistics Inhalants commonly sniffed, or "huffed," by children as young as 8 include: gasoline and lighter fluid, spray paints, cleaning fluids, paint thinners and other solvents, degreasers, correction fluids, hair sprays and odorizers. Approximately 23 million people have abused inhalants in their lifetime. More than 2 million people huffed in 2003, of that 1.1 million were years of age. In 2002, more than 1 million people huffed for the first time, 883,000 were aged

Health Risks Health risks include: brain and neural damage convulsions depressed motor skills suffocation / asphyxia chronic weight loss loss of consciousness delinquent behavior death

Suggestions for Reducing Inhalant Use Laws requiring the addition of nausea- inducing substances to model airplane glue. Regulation of the sale of chemicals in retail outlets. Education of adults regarding proper storage of volatile home products. Requirement of childproof containers for dangerous chemicals Education of the public in general about the inhalant category of substance abuse.

Relating It Back to HLTH301 Drug education must be a diverse strategy that includes classroom activities focused on developing personal and social skills as well as other developmentally appropriate activities and learning experiences. Drug education and prevention must involve the family, the community, and the cultural environment, particularly the media.

Links National Inhalant Prevention Coalition Partnership for a Drug-free America Parents. The Anti-Drug drug_info_inhalants.asp drug_info_inhalants.asp