Abuse report: Teens sniffing inhalants

William Atkins
Tuesday, 17 March 2009 17:48

Science - Health

And, the report concludes by saying, “These findings highlight the ongoing need for prevention and treatment of inhalant use and abuse. Continuing efforts are needed among adolescents and their parents, other family members, teachers, service providers, and policymakers to increase awareness of the dangers of inhalant use."

"Awareness campaigns and prevention efforts may need targeted messages about the use of specific inhalants, such as aerosol air fresheners, aerosol sprays, and aerosol cleaning products.”

Additional information on inhalants is found at the National Institute of Drug Abuse website "NIDA InfoFacts: Inhalants."

The article states that children in grade school are abusing inhalants. It states, "Inhalants are a diverse group of volatile substances whose chemical vapors can be inhaled to produce psychoactive (mind-altering) effects."

And, "While other abused substances can be inhaled, the term “inhalants” is used to describe substances that are rarely, if ever, taken by any other route of administration. A variety of products common in the home and workplace contain substances that can be inhaled to get high; however, people do not typically think of these products (e.g., spray paints, glues, and cleaning fluids) as drugs because they were never intended to induce intoxicating effects."

"Yet young children and adolescents can easily obtain these extremely toxic substances, and are among those most likely to abuse them."

The sobering truth is, according to the NIDA: "In fact, more 8th graders have tried inhalants than any other illicit drug."

Please read the NIDA article to learn more about teenagers and their use and abuse of inhalants.