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Inhalant abuse is defined as the deliberate inhalation or sniffing of common products found in homes and communities with the purpose of getting high. Though there are many illegal drugs that are inhaled, the term inhalant refers to products that, in and of themselves, are not illegal, but can be used to produce similar effects. Products used as inhalants include spray paint, nail polish remover, rubber cement, hair spray, and paint thinner.

The three most common ways of using inhalants are called sniffing, huffing, and bagging. Sniffing is the most common and easiest method, and refers to inhaling product fumes directly from the product; i.e. a bottle of rubber cement. Huffing is done by soaking a rag or other piece of cloth with a product and holding the rag to the face or stuffing it in the mouth. Substances are bagged when theyre sprayed or placed inside a paper or plastic bag and the fumes are inhaled from the bag.

Regardless of the method, inhalants are dangerous. They can cause blackouts, lung damage, and even seizures if someone has an adverse reaction to the chemical.

Inhalants are especially dangerous for young children, as the products used are often found right in the home. Studies have found that kids as young as 5 have tried inhalants and that 3 percent of kids will have tried it at least once by the time they reach the fourth grade.

Studies have also found that nearly as many eighth-graders use inhalants as use marijuana, yet parents are 50 percent less likely to talk with their kids about the dangers of inhalants.

One of the gravest dangers associated with inhalant abuse is called Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome (SSDS). SSDS occurs when an inhalant causes the heart to beat erratically and quickly at the same time that the fumes inhibit the bodys ability to produce enough oxygen. The user suffocates.

Theres no formula for determining when someone might be at risk of Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome. It could happen the 50th time inhalants are abused, or it could happen the first time. Even if death doesnt occur, inhalants can cause brain damage, nausea, headaches, and fatigue. They can also damage the central nervous system.

Kids who abuse inhalants may appear to be disoriented, dizzy, or uncoordinated. They may also have slurred speech, a red or runny nose, unusual breath, or sores around the mouth.

If you suspect your child or another young person is abusing inhalants, get them help. Sit down and have a long talk about the dangers and consequences of their behavior. Make sure he or she takes the conversation seriously. Not only are inhalants used by very young kids, but they often become a gateway to abuse of illicit drugs and/or alcohol.

Labels: parents, teen-inhalant-abuse

Posted By: jgarcia 0 Comments

I wrote in a previous entry that a lot of teens assume that prescription drugs are safe because they are prescribed by a doctor and they are pretty much always around the house. Like prescription drugs, some teens think that because they find inhalants in their homes, that they should be safe. Again, this assumption would be totally wrong. Just because you find something in your house doesn't mean its safe. You wouldn't drink bleach just because you found it under the sink (or at least I hope you wouldn't). The abuse of inhalants found in household products can have serious effects on your brain and your body.

It seems like inhalant abuse would be a parent's prevention nightmare because it would be nearly impossible to keep a teenager away from products that can be used as inhalants, such as air freshener, hair spray, white out, spray paint, or even gasoline. All of these products are easily accessible, and even if parents try to remove all of these things from their homes, anybody can go pick up a can of air freshener or a bottle of white out for a couple bucks. This accessibility to products that can be abused is what makes inhalant abuse a serious problem among teens.

Inhalant use may seem like a pretty easy and relatively harmless way to get high, but you could be putting your health, and your life at serious risk. Chemicals that are inhaled are absorbed into the body rapidly, and then travel through the bloodstream. All inhalants slow down the body's function, and cause intoxication, or a high. Many of the consequences of inhalant abuse are very serious, and many of these consequences cannot be reversed. These permanent consequences include brain, liver, and kidney damage, and can result in a loss of hearing and smell (which would be really crappy). Inhalant abuse can also result in death even the first time you use them. Because you are breathing in toxic chemicals, inhalant abuse can result in asphyxiation and suffocation when your body does not get the oxygen that it needs to function.

None of the consequences of inhalant abuse should be taken lightly. You can do serious and irreversible damage to your body. If you have a friend who is abusing inhalants or if you think your teen is abusing inhalants, it is important to be aware of the signs of inhalant abuse, which can include slurred speech, drunk or dizzy appearance chemical smells on clothing, and red eyes. Talk to your friend or your teen about their inhalant abuse and get them help before they do permanent damage to their bodies. If you are abusing inhalants, ask for help to stop so that you don't put your health, and ultimately your life, in danger.

Labels: teen-addiction, teen-substance-abuse, teen-drug-abuse, teen-drug-help, teen-inhalant-abuse, teen-rehab

Posted By: beth 0 Comments