Inhalant abuse among teens is an alarming trend. "Huffing" or "sniffing" is becoming a more popular way for young people to achieve a high and escape reality. Teens use products including gasoline, glue, aerosol containers, whipped cream cans, cleaners, correctional fluid (Wite-Out), and spray paint. Sadly, few stop to consider exactly what is in these products and being introduced into their systems. Inhalant abuse is on the rise and poses serious health and safety risks to today's adolescent population.
Over 2 million teens will abuse inhalants at some point in their lives. In 2002, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health determined that approximately 2.6 million 12 to 17 year olds had used inhalants in the past. This finding was about half a million teens higher than two years prior. Compared to the 1990's teen drug abuse numbers are lower today, yet the teenage attitude toward inhalants is much more casual today. This is most likely due to the fact that the products that are inhaled are not illegal, but typically found in the average household or drug store.
The effects of inhalant abuse go far beyond the initial slurred speech, dizziness, or hallucinations one may experience within the first few minutes of their high. Some of the chemicals inhaled are absorbed and stored in the fatty tissues of the brain and central nervous system, one of which is myelin. Myelin is significant because it surrounds important neurons, which carry communication to and from the brain. Inhalants will initially slow down this communication, but long term can break down myelin. This effect is much like what multiple sclerosis patients experience, muscle spasms, tremors, and difficulty with walking, talking, or bending. Inhalant abuse also causes serious trauma and damage to the brain, including the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and ophthalmic nerve, the blood, lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, muscle, and bone marrow.
Inhalants are more likely to be abused by younger teens because they can be found just about anywhere. Teens may feel like this is a "safer" method of drug use because the substances being used are not illegal. The Partnership for a Drug Free America did a study which found that teens who abuse inhalants are three times more likely to use other drugs as well. This information may cause one to consider that the areas of our anti-drug campaigns should not only focus on marijuana as a gateway drug, but that others are even more dangerous and easier to get a hold of.
Sources:
http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_inhale2.php
http://www.cnn.com/2004/HEALTH/parenting/03/18/inhalant.abuse/index.html
http://www.inhalants.org/damage.htm
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