Clint Eastwood Youth Program - CEYP Newsletter
Issue 04: Inhalants — a cheap and very dangerous “high”
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Many aerosols and other household chemicals are damaging to the environment, but most people probably don’t think of them as a potential danger to their children. Research suggests that 18% of middle and high school students have either experimented with or are frequent users of inhalants. Hundreds of household products like these listed contain chemicals that can be inhaled to produce a high. |
Examples of inhalants:
- Glue
- Paint thiner
- Nail polish
- Spray paint
- Gasoline
- Felt-tip marker fluid
- Propane
- Whip cream aerosol
- Office correction fluid
- Hair spray
- Cooking spray
- Furniture polish
All are more dangerous than you might think. Your child can do irreparable harm to himself/herself without spending a penny or making an illegal purchase.
Huffing
Use of inhalants is referred to as “huffing,” “bagging,” “sniffing,” and “wanging.” Huffing rapidly brings highly concentrated amounts of chemicals into the body. Sometimes inhalants are inhaled directly, or they may be sprayed or poured onto a cloth or piece of clothing and sniffed. Inhalants can be sprayed into a bag or empty soft drink can and inhaled. Nitrous oxide may be inhaled straight from a balloon. Children can sit in class and sniff correction fluid or other inhalants, without drawing suspicion. Often, the use of inhalants is done with others.
“Huffing” Can Be Deadly
Huffing can cause brain damage and it can literally stop your heart. Kids may sniff for 10 to 15 seconds and produce a high that can last a few minutes. If they continue to inhale these substances, dizziness, fainting, or even death can occur. The brain damage caused by “huffing” can cause cognitive abnormalities that range from mild impairment to severe dementia. Suffocation can take place as the inhaled vapors displace oxygen in the lungs and cause breathing to stop temporarily or, sometimes, permanently.
Inhalant use sometimes causes “sudden-sniff syndrome,” which results in death. Sudden-sniff syndrome is responsible for more than half of all deaths due to inhalant use. Sudden death syndrome can occur the 100th time, the first time, anytime a child takes a hit.
Warning Signs
Symptoms of inhalant use may include headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, loss of balance, slurred and slow speech, mood changes, and hallucinations. Be on the alert for watery eyes, dazed appearance, red or runny nose, nosebleeds, loss of appetite, anxiety, excitability, irritability, spots or sores around the mouth or nose, paint on the face, and breath that smells of chemicals. Long-term use may present more serious symptoms— loss of concentration, short-term memory loss, hearing loss, lessened ability to control one’s own behavior, muscle spasms, brain abnormalities, cognitive impairment, nerve and/or brain damage, and death.
The most effective way to combat inhalant use is to talk with your children about the dangers of inhalants and other chemicals. Start early! Inhalant use is most prevalent in the 12-14-year-old age range, but it is being reported in elementary school children.