DEFINITION
Commonly known among kids as "huffing," "bagging," or "sniffing," inhalant abuse is the deliberate concentration and inhalation of common products found in homes, offices, and schools to get high.

STATISTICS
National surveys of young people and U.S. households indicate that:

  • Inhalants are the fifth most-abused substance after alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and prescription drug misuse among high school students.
  • Almost as many 8th graders have ever tried inhalants (16 percent) as have tried marijuana/hashish (18 percent), according to Monitoring the Future 2003.
  • According to the 2002 Household Survey, 308,000 teens, aged 12-17 used inhalants in the past month.
  • Fewer than 1 in 20 parents believe their children may have ever abused inhalants.
More than 1,000 common products are potential inhalants that can kill, including:
Glue
Freon
Correction fluid
Computer agents
Deodorizers Markers 		Paint products
Gases (whippets, butane, propane)
Gasoline
Fire extinguishers 		Nail polish remover
Lighter fluid
Hair spray
Cleaning agents


HARMFUL EFFECTS
Chronic inhalant users can suffer severe and permanent brain damage; some die the first time they experiment. Other possible risks include the following:

Intoxication
Hearing loss
Bone marrow damage 		Short-term memory loss
Limb spasms
Liver and kidney damage


SIGNS OF USE
There is a common link between inhalant abuse and problems in school - failing grades, chronic absences, and general apathy. Other signs include the following:

  • Paint or stains on body, clothing, rags, or bags
  • Unusual breath odor or chemical odor on clothing
  • Slurred or disorientated speech
  • Anxiety, excitability, irritability, or restlessness
  • Missing household items
  • Red or runny eyes or nose
  • Spots or sores around the mouth
  • Drunk, dazed, or dizzy appearance
  • Nausea, loss of appetite
  • For more information, contact the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition at (800) 269-4237, or visit http://www.inhalants.org/.

Source: The National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) 

Alliance for Consumer Education (ACE)