Deadly trend: abusing inhalants
Categories: Teens & tweens, Health & safety, Alcohol & drugs, Education, That's entertainment
It seems that the list of potential dangers to our children keeps growing on a daily basis. I'll admit, this is one issue that I hadn't given any thought to until I picked up the most recent copy of Family Circle magazine. According to them, sniffing common household aerosols is one of the fastest growing trends among young teens. Looking for a quick high or head rush, kids are inhaling toxic fumes of hair sprays, deodorants, room fresheners and the like. The Partnership for a Drug-Free America states that more than 4.5 million kids have tried this, with a high number not believing that it is dangerous or potentially lethal.Know the terminology. Keep an ear out for these terms, as kids today aren't simply sniffing the products. Many are snorting the products through their nose or mouths, others are "huffing" which is soaking a rag in the toxic spray and then covering their mouths with it. "Bagging" is filling a plastic bag with the fumes and inhaling. Very scary stuff.
They recommend talking to your kids about the dangers of this, without giving too many details - it may sound strange to say that, but you really don't want to give them any ideas or techniques.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ethel 1-29-2007 @ 4:43PM
This "trend" has been around for at minimum 25 years! When I was a kid the kids down the street routinely would spray aerosol paint into a bag and huff it. Some of my friends in grade school would sniff rubber cement. In rural areas huffing gasoline killed some boys who were about 8 years old. Its not new, it is easy, and very young kids are and have been doing it.
Toluene is a favorite (found in paint and paint cleaners), acetone, rubber cement, anything with rapidly evaporating organic chemicals. Which I think a lot of folks don't know love to intertwine with your DNA and interfere with its replication and translation (meaning mutations in somatic cells and potential cancer causing agent) as well as damaging brain cells.
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Ann Adams 1-29-2007 @ 5:33PM
Probably even longer, Ethel, but it's good to have the reminder.
It's one of the things the girls and I have talked about. As usual, they knew more than I. So far, they think it's dumb.
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Paula 1-30-2007 @ 8:31AM
I am surprised at the number of people who come through my register at work and have no idea what sniffing or huffing means. Things like spray paint, acetone, certian auto chemicals, white out, and super and airplane glue prompt a cashier to check the age of the person buying it, persons under 18 are refused the sale. I honestly don't think it would deter kids who intend to use it to huff from getting it.
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