Inhalant Abuse

Inhalant AbuseI got to break this habitbefore it breaks meIt’s going to can’t you see

I’m clutching my curewhich is airI need helpbut you just don’t care

I’ve failedI breathe deepinto the heavy fumesMy brain falls asleep

Blood falls from my nosemy head starts to achI need helpI’m starting to break

Silent Epidemic? Young adults and kids know of this

fad, but many parents are in the dark about it.

What is huffing? Huffing (sometimes called sniffing,

bagging or dusting)• Is the deliberate inhalation of toxic gases, vapors

or fumes in order to become intoxicated, possibly to the point of unconsciousness.

• Many huffers will spray aerosol chemicals such as enamel paint or solvents into a paper bag and then inhale the vapors through their noses and mouths.

The 3rd most abused substance by teenagers

What do you know?

Who is doing it? approximately 2 million young people

ages 12 to 17 have used an inhalant Approximately 70% who initiated

abuse were white • 17.6% Latino • 7.3% African American

Teenagers from higher income families

The Face Of Huffing

Why is this a problem?SHORT TERM EFFECTS LONG TERM EFFECTS

Dizziness  Nausea/vomiting  Delusions  Hallucinations  Loss of inhibitions  Impaired judgment

• Cardiac arrest  • Suffocation - due to

decreased levels of oxygen  • Choking - can choke on vomit  • Brain damage - caused by

lack of oxygen to the brain  • Muscle damage  • Bone marrow damage -

reduces formation of blood cells 

• Cancer - some toxins are carcinogens 

• Other forms of drug abuse

It is NOT HARMLESS FUN!! You can die the 1st, the 10th, or the 100th time you huff. • 39% of Huffing related deaths occurred

after the users very first time Young adults and kids don't see them

as dangerous because they are in their own homes.

Warning signs Apparent drunkenness Chemical odors from breath, clothing or child's

room Clothes soaked with chemicals Hidden empty spray paint or solvent containers Hidden rags soaked with chemicals Irritability, social withdrawal and depression Loss of appetite Nausea and vomiting Paint stains on the hands, face and clothes Red or runny nose Sores and rashes around the mouth and nose.

Ways to integrate Health Education With Content

High School English• Instructors can

give the students an article on Huffing to test for reading comprehension.

• Or students could write reports on huffing.

Science The instructor can

discuss Huffing and its affects on the circulatory system.

The instructor can also introduce the health statistics and dangers of Huffing to the circulatory and nervous systems.

Music Appreciation or Film Students could write their own lyrics or do

presentations about bands/movies with huffing undertones. Or, Create their own presentations.

Other ways to incorporate into your lesson

You can incorporate discussions about inhalants in many subjects. Here are just a few ideas. •  Art (posters, cartoon development, bookmarks, book covers,

etc.)• Language Arts (Expressing feelings, discussing “bad” things,

developing interviewing skills, phone help line conversations, mime, saying no, writing skills)

• Social Studies (family structure, expressing opinions, data research and graphing)

• Science (effects of alcohol in the body, ratio and proportions, impact of drugs on the body)

• Home Economics (Safety issues, toxic substances, poisons) • Music (lyric writing, research on musicians and drugs)• Physical Education/Health (exercise and the body - healthy

lungs, heart, brain, etc.; athletes and drugs)

What Standards are we adressing? Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs

#1-8• For example,

1.2A: Explain the impact of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use on brain chemistry, brain function, and other behavior.

5.1A: Use a decision-making process to evaluate how the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs affects individuals, families, and society

Resources www.inhalants.org blog.helpforparents.com www.mayoclinic.com For those in the Riverside area mentalhealth.rcmhd.org  (riverside

area behavioral health) National Inhalant Prevention Coalition

Number 1- 800 269 4237

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