When our children were toddlers, we knew the importance of poison control. We’d lock away our cleaning products, paints, & caustic chemicals from our precious little one’s curious reach. As our children mature, we are less diligent, confident we’ve taught them well what products are dangerous & not meant for human consumption. Just when you thought they were safe, our children enter the curious, risk-taking, adolescent years.

As parents of elementary, pre-teen, & adolescent youth, we need to be aware of the dangerous world of inhalant abuse. “Huffing” is a popular term & is the act of purposely inhaling chemical vapors of common, easily accessible household products. According to ‘inhalant.org’, “sniffing” or “huffing” usually begins at the tender age of 10 or 11.  Further data states 1 out of 5 school-aged children have used an inhalant to get high by the 8th grade. At the same time, only 3% of parents suspect their child would ever abuse inhalants.

Alarmingly, there are several hundred common household or commercial products that can be abused. These are broadly categorized into volatile solvents, aerosols, gases & nitrites. Examples of everyday household products that can be abused are butane lighter fluid, spray paints, paint thinners, computer dusters, deodorant, hair & shoe sprays, whipped cream canisters, nail polish & remover, glue & felt tip markers. Commercial products include gases from refrigerants & propane tanks.

While it may be difficult to believe your child may experiment with any of these products, it is important for parents know their child may be introduced to this information. Yes our youth may “know better”, but they enter a curious age where experimentation coupled with encouragement of friends may tempt them try something stupid.  The effect of inhalation abuse is said to be similar to alcohol intoxication. There may be initial excitation or a euphoric high. That is short-lived & quickly turns into drowsiness, lightheadedness or dizziness, & later headache & agitation. Similar to alcohol, the abuser feels less inhibited, which exacerbates their poor judgment. To experience the euphoria, an abuser may repeat the inhalation several times over a couple hours, significantly increasing the danger.

“Sudden sniffing death” can occur from a single session of inhalant, particularly with the abuse of butane & chemicals in aerosols. Death can occur by cardiac arrest or asphyxiation. Damage to the brain & other vital organs are accumulative. Again these products were never intended for human consumption & produce neurotoxic effects. Brain images have demonstrated brain shrinkage & destruction of protective sheath around nerve fibers. Long term symptoms are similar to those of MS & can effect movement, coordination, & feeling. Cognitive effects can range from mild impairment to severe dementia. Inhalants are also toxic to the heart, lungs, kidneys, & liver, that may only be partially reversed when stopped. So if it doesn’t kill, it can cause permanent brain damage & long-term impaired body function. Inhalants are considered addicting & may progress to abuse of other illegal or prescription drugs.

The number one thing you can do as a parent is to get informed. Next, talk to your preteen openly & honestly about inhalant abuse. Let them know they are just as precious & valued now as when they were tiny toddlers. Advise them that they have one brain & one body & they need to value & protect it. A great website, from which most of the above information was obtained, is from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA website: www.inhalants.drugabuse.gov). Another good site is the Alliance for Consumer Education or www.inhalant.org. Included are age-appropriate talking points (age 6-11, 12-18) to discuss with your child. They also list the tell-tale signs of potential inhalant abuse. Many young people are not aware of the serious health consequences or risk of losing their life from such experimentation. Early identification & intervention is the best way to stop or minimize serious damage to your precious child.

Other information resources include the Minnesota Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control, or Brown County Public Health.