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Inhalant Abuse: It's Deadly. Inhalant abuse can kill.
It can kill suddenly, and it can kill those who sniff for the first
time.
Every year, young people in this country die of inhalant abuse.
Hundreds suffer severe consequences, including permanent brain damage,
loss of muscle control, and destruction of the heart, blood, kidney,
liver, and bone marrow.
Today more than 1,000 different products are commonly abused. The
National Institute on Drug Abuse reported in 1996 that one in five
American teenagers have used inhalants to get high.
Many youngsters say they begin sniffing when they're in grade school.
They start because they feel these substances can't hurt them, because of
peer pressure, or because of low self-esteem. Once hooked, these victims
find it a tough habit to break.
These questions and answers will help you identify inhalant abuse and
understand what you can do to prevent or stop this problem.
What is inhalant abuse?
Inhalant abuse is the deliberate inhalant or sniffing of common
products found in homes and schools to obtain a "high."
What are the effects of inhalant abuse?
Sniffing can cause sickness and death. For example, victims may become
nauseated, forgetful, and unable to see things clearly. Victims may lose
control of their body, including the use of arms and legs. These effects
can last 15 to 45 minutes after sniffing.
In addition, sniffing can severely damage many parts of the body,
including the brain, heart, liver, and kidneys.
Even worse, victims can die suddenly -- without any warning. "Sudden
Sniffing Death" can occur during or right after sniffing. The heart
begins to overwork, beating rapidly but unevenly, which can lead to
cardiac arrest. Even first-time abusers have been known to die from
sniffing inhalants.
What products are abused?
Ordinary household products, which can be safely used for legitimate
purposes, can be problematic in the hands of an inhalant abuser. The
following categories of products are reportedly abused: glues/adhesives,
nail polish remover, marking pens, paint thinner, spray paint, butane
lighter fluid, gasoline, propane gas, typewriter correction fluid,
household cleaners, cooking sprays, deodorants, fabric protectors,
whipping cream aerosols, and air conditioning coolants.
How can you tell if a young person is an inhalant abuser?
If someone is an inhalant abuser, some or all these symptoms may be
evident:
- Unusual breath odor or chemical odor on clothing.
- Slurred or disoriented speech.
- Drunk, dazed, or dizzy appearance.
- Signs of paint or other products where they wouldn't normally be,
such as on the face or fingers.
- Red or runny eyes or nose.
- Spots and/or sores around the mouth.
- Nausea and/or loss of appetite.
- Chronic inhalant abusers may exhibit such symptoms as anxiety,
excitability, irritability, or restlessness.
What could be other telltale behaviors of inhalant abuse?
Inhalant abusers also may exhibit the following signs:
- Sitting with a pen or marker near nose.
- Constantly smelling clothing sleeves.
- Showing paint or stain marks on the face, fingers, or clothing.
- Hiding rags, clothes, or empty containers of the potentially abused
products in closets and other places.
What is a typical profile of an inhalant abuser in the U.S.?
There is no typical profile of an inhalant abuser. Victims are
represented by both sexes and all socioeconomic groups throughout the U.S.
It's not unusual to see elementary and middle-school age youths involved
with inhalant abuse.
How does a young person who abuses inhalants die?
There are many scenarios for how young people die of inhalant abuse. Here
are some of them:
- A 13 year-old boy was inhaling fumes from cleaning fluid and
became ill a few minutes afterwards. Witnesses alerted the parents, and
the victim was hospitalized and placed on life support systems. He died
24 hours after the incident.
- An 11 year-old boy collapsed in a public bathroom. A butane
cigarette lighter fuel container and a plastic bag were found next to him.
He also had bottles of typewriter correction fluid in his pocket. CPR
failed to revive him, and he was pronounced dead.
- A 15 year-old boy was found unconscious in a backyard. According to
three companions, the four teenagers had taken gas from a family's grill
propane tank. They put the gas in a plastic bag and inhaled the gas to
get high. The victim collapsed shortly after inhaling the gas. He died
on the way to the hospital.
What can you do to prevent inhalant abuse?
One of the most important steps you can take is to talk with your
children or other youngsters about not experimenting even a first time
with inhalants. In addition, talk with your children's teachers, guidance
counselors, and coaches. By discussing this problem openly and stressing
the devastating consequences of inhalant abuse, you can help prevent a
tragedy.
If you suspect your child or someone you know is an inhalant abuser,
what can you do to help?
Be alert for symptoms of inhalant abuse. If you suspect there's a
problem, you should consider seeking professional help.
Contact a local drug rehabilitation center or other services
available in your community, or:
National Inhalant Prevention Coalition
1-800-269-4237
or on the World Wide Web at
www.inhalants.org
National Drug and Alcohol
Treatment Referral
Service
1-800-662-HELP
National Clearinghouse for Alcohol
and Drug
Information
1-800-729-6686
or www.health.org
Other related web sites:
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