By Tony Bylsma CCDC*
Huffing is a term meaning the intentional
inhaling of a chemical, often some household
product, to achieve an intoxication effect.
These chemicals can be volatile solvents,
aerosols, nitrites and various gases.
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* Volatile solvents
include paint thinners and removers, dry-cleaning
fluids, degreasers, gasoline, glues, correction
fluids, and felt-tip marker fluids.
* Aerosols include spray paints, deodorant and
hair sprays, vegetable
oil sprays for cooking,
and fabric protector sprays.
* Nitrites are used primarily to enhance sex. Room
odorizers contain
one form of nitrite.
Another form, amyl nitrite, is sometimes
prescribed for heart pain. Illegal samples of amyl
nitrite are called "poppers" or "snappers."
* Gases include ether, chloroform, halothane, and
nitrous oxide "laughing gas". Butane lighters,
propane tanks, whipped cream dispensers, and
refrigerants contain gases that can be inhaled.
Who is huffing?
According to the most recent national survey from
National Families in Action, Unlike most drugs of
abuse, younger adolescents are the ones most
likely to use inhalants. This is likely due to the
easy accessibility and relative low costs
involved.
Percentage of students reporting past year
inhalant use, 1996–2002
1996 1997 1998
1999 2000 2001 2002
8th graders 12.2 11.8 11.1
10.3 9.4 9.1 7.7
10th graders 9.5 8.7 8.0
7.2 7.3 6.6 5.8
12th graders 7.6 6.7 6.2
5.6 5.9 4.5 4.5
Source: Monitoring the Future
Study.
Damage to Body Caused by Inhalants:
Acoustic nerve and muscle
Destruction of cells that relay sound to the brain
may cause deafness.
Blood
The oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood can be
inhibited.
Bone marrow
Components containing benzene have been shown to
cause leukemia.
Brain
Damage is also caused to the cerebral cortex and
the cerebellum, resulting in personality changes,
memory impairment, hallucinations, loss of
coordination, and slurred speech.
Heart
Sudden sniffing death (SSD) syndrome,* an
unexpected disturbance in the heart's rhythm, may
cause fatal cardiac arrhythmias (heart failure).
Kidneys
The kidney's ability to control the amount of acid
in the blood may be impaired. Kidney stones may
develop after use is terminated.
Liver
Gathering of fatty tissue may cause liver damage.
Lungs
Damaged lungs and impaired breathing occurs with
repeated use.
Muscle
Chronic use can lead to muscle wasting and reduced
muscle tone and strength.
Peripheral nervous system
Damage to the nerves may result in numbness,
tingling, and paralysis.
Skin
A severe rash around the nose and mouth, referred
to as "glue sniffer's rash," may result.
*SSD syndrome may result when a user deeply
inhales a chemical for the effect of intoxication.
This causes a decrease in available oxygen in the
body. If the user becomes startled or engages in
sudden physical activity, an increased flow of
adrenaline from the brain to the heart induces
cardiac arrest and death occurs within minutes.
Source: National Inhalant
Prevention Coalition.
"Even a single session of repeated inhalant abuse
can disrupt heart rhythms and cause death from
cardiac arrest or lower oxygen levels enough to
cause suffocation," notes Alan Leshner, PhD,
former director of NIDA. "Regular abuse of these
substances can result in serious harm to vital
organs, including the brain, heart, kidneys, and
liver."
In classrooms and other places where we speak to
children about drugs there is an increasing number
who ask about inhalants. The questions are of the
kind of specific nature that leads us to believe
that the interest is not all academic.
With one out of five eighth graders having at
least experimented with inhalants, it imperative
that we act and act now to inform them of the real
dangers involved.
What can we do about the problem?
The first thing is to abandon any idea that some
kids are immune. This is a phenomenon that can
occur in any neighborhood, any income level and
any ethnicity.
These products are already in the garage, under
the sink and in the office. Kids find these
chemicals there and don't feel that there can be
that much harm in "just playing around" with it a
time or two. But the effects can be addictive and
playing around can lead to a serious problem in
very short order.
So we MUST see to it that every child is aware of
the dangers of poisonous chemicals and exactly
which chemicals are to be avoided. We can label
the harmful ones with a distinctive mark that
cannot be missed. Any poisons in the home without
a label can easily be labeled by parents
Finally,
children have to be made aware.
Kids don't walk out in front of a speeding truck
out of curiosity, why?
Because they truly understand that the effects are
dangerous, debilitating and painful. If they have
that solid an understanding about the damage of
huffing they'll avoid it too.
Toll Free:
888-800-8331
Mr. Tony
Bylsma, a *Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor
and Executive Director of Narconon Drug Prevention
& Education, has since 1980 educated many
thousands of students on the dangers of drugs. In
addition he has years of experience in
rehabilitating drug addicts.
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