Newswise — A school-based program to educate parents on the risks of inhalant abuse was launched today in response to the increasing misuse of common household products by adolescents to get "high." The Inhalant Abuse Prevention Program, sponsored by the Alliance for Consumer Education (ACE) and the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), will roll out in Alabama, Alaska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia this spring before going national in the fall (see: http://www.inhalant.org).
According to recent data from the US government-funded "Monitoring the Future" survey, 1 in every 5 students reports having abused inhalants by eighth grade. Other data from the Partnership for a Drug-Free American (PDFA) shows that fewer children today associate abusing inhalants with serious health risks, therefore flagging an alert for increased use and abuse of inhalant products.
More than 1,400 inexpensive and readily-available products--including correction fluid, nail polish remover, computer dust removal sprays, hair spray, pressurized dessert toppings, air freshener, felt tipped markers, spray paint, glue, butane lighters and cooking spray--are "huffed" or "sniffed" by children to achieve short-term intoxication. For less than $2 and a rag or paper bag, a child can get highs similar to those produced by alcohol.
"Inhalant abusers risk an array of devastating medical consequences," said George Rodgers, Jr., MD, PhD of the University of Louisville. "When used inappropriately, chemicals found in commonly-abused products can kill a child the first time he or she "sniffs" and cause irreversible damage to the brain, heart, lungs, kidneys and liver."
"Inhalants can be addictive, with children moving on to marijuana, narcotics and alcohol," said Carrie Anderson, MD, associate director of the family practice residency program at St. Francis Hospital and Health Centers, Beach Grove, Ind. "Unfortunately, diagnosis of abuse is difficult, treatment complex and the rate of relapse high. We need to focus our energy and resources on prevention, especially among preadolescents and adolescents."
"The new trends we're seeing are cause for real concern about the prevalence of inhalant abuse among children as young as six--and what this might mean for a turnaround in the progress we've made against drug abuse overall," said Stephen J. Pasierb, PDFA president and CEO.
"There's a strong lesson learned from this recent data and that's the need to remain vigilant in addressing the threat of inhalant abuse among our children," said U.S. Senator Mike DeWine (R-OH). "Better tracking to document incidence and better outreach to educate parents about risks and symptoms are imperative, since the real impetus for prevention begins at home. We applaud ACE and the American School Counselor Association for taking this innovative initiative."
Diane Stem of Old Hickory, Tennessee, knows first hand about the dangers of inhalant abuse. Her son Ricky died after inhaling Freon from their air conditioner. "This was his first experience with an inhalant. Sudden Sniffing Death took my son's life! I urge all parents to begin talking to their children early and often," she said.
The Inhalant Abuse Prevention Program will provide school counselors with specially developed kits containing guidelines and handouts for use in education sessions with parents of elementary and middle-school age students. The goal is to increase the number of parents who include the risks of inhalant abuse in discussions with their children about drugs and alcohol from the current 47 percent to 80 percent by 2007.
"This is an ambitious undertaking, but the alternative—the status quo—is unacceptable," said Carlene Kreider, Vice President-Innovation for Seaquist Perfect Dispensing and President of the Board of Trustees for ACE. "Talking to our kids and their parents about the risks of substance abuse is part of our core responsibilities as counselors," said Manny Bartolotta, past president of the Virginia School Counselors Association. "This program will help us do a better job of including inhalant abuse in these discussions."
The Alliance for Consumer Education (ACE) is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit foundation dedicated to advancing community health and well-being where ever household and commercial products are used. The American School Counselor Association is a nonprofit organization based in Alexandria, Va., providing support for more than 14,000 professional school counselors in their efforts to help students achieve academic and personal growth.
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