Abuse report: Teens sniffing inhalants

William Atkins
Tuesday, 17 March 2009 17:48

Science - Health

Although a lower percentage of U.S. teens are sniffing, or huffing, inhalants in 2007, the number of teenagers who have abused inhalants has remained about the same for the past five years (2002-2007), according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).


The new HHS study, which was released on Monday, March 16, 2009, states that nearly one million teenagers from twelve years of age to seventeen years used some type of inhalant in 2007.

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) report is entitled “Trends in Adolescent Inhalant Use: 2002-2007.” The report defines inhalants as “… liquids, sprays, and gases that people sniff or inhale to get high or to make them feel good."

Some of the various inhalants used by these adolescents are spray paint, gasoline, glue, air conditioner refrigerant, hair sprays, nail polish, degreasers, paint solvents, aerosol and computer cleaners and other cleaning fluids, correction fluids, shoe polish, and lighter fluid.

The specific percentage was 3.9% of all adolescents abused inhalants in 2007. The percentage was 4.4% in 2006, 4.5% in 2005, 4.6% in 2004, and 4.5% in 2003.

The percentage of teenagers experimenting, what the report called “initiation” of inhalants for the first time, was about 2.1% in 2007, a percentage that was just a bit lower in 2007 when compared to one year earlier.

According to the U.S. News and World Report article Fewer Teens Sniffing Glue, Household Products, “More than 17 percent of American adolescents who use drugs started by sniffing common household products ….”

Page two continues with recommendations from the Department of Human and Health Services with regards to inhalants and teenage abuse.