how youth can get high legally and without cost by: jon agley, m.p.h

How Youth Can Get High Legally and Without Cost

By: Jon Agley, M.P.H.

By the end of this presentation:

you will have…

(1) Been exposed to general information about Inhalants.

(2) Learned some basic facts about Inhalant users in Indiana.

(3) Viewed the potential consequences of Inhalant use, both short-term and long-term.

(4) Learned how to begin to help someone who you think may be addicted.

Indiana Prevention Resource Center

Inhalants don’t get a lot of attention.

But…

In the 1990s, they were the second most commonly-used illicit drug among 12- 17-year olds.

(Brouette & Anton, 2001).


Between 1996 and 1999, 240 deaths in the United States were attributed to inhalant use.

(Brouette & Anton, 2001).

I present these data not to be “frightening,” but to emphasize that sniffing glue, “white-out,” gas, or any similar substance is not a game, nor is it harmless.


““Inhalants” is the name given to a range of Inhalants” is the name given to a range of common household solvent products such as:common household solvent products such as:

Glue MarkersComputer Cleaner

Gasoline Hair Spray

Aerosol Cans


““Inhalants” also refers to gases such as:Inhalants” also refers to gases such as:

Butane

Freon

Propane

Helium

Nitrous Oxide


The name “Inhalants” comes from the fact that these items are usually abused by sniffing or inhaling fumes.

Almost every form of Inhalant can be purchased legally.


There are thousands of different inhalants!

Typical street names include:

HuffBang

Highball

Moon Gas Poor Man’s Pot

KickDust


Common paraphernalia: Notalways present during Inhalant abuse.

Balloons

Socks

Paper BagsRags

It is important to realize that most Inhalant use is not detectable by means of traditional drug tests.

Someone who is addicted to “getting high” and whose parents or peers are actively preventing other illegal substance abuse might turn to Inhalants because the products are:

small

easily concealed


For both male and female adolescents, depression is significantly correlated with inhalant use (Kubik et al., 2003).


This means:

Youth who are depressed might turn to inhalant use.

Inhalant use itself might cause depression.

Physical signs of inhalant use include:


Paint or stains on the body or clothing.

Spots, sores, or rashes around the mouth/nose.

Drunk/dazed/dizzy appearance without another explanation.

Hidden, unexplainable, inhalant products.

There is no known age groupthat is not at risk for Inhalant abuse.

However, Inhalant abusers are…

- More likely to be between ages 12 and 17.

- More likely to be white/non-Hispanic.


3.1% of Indiana students between grades 6 and 12 reported abusingInhalants on a monthly basis in 2003.

Among severely addicted drug users,Inhalant use usually began 6 monthsbefore marijuana use.


No study has found conclusiveproof about Inhalants’ status as a gateway drug as of this point in time.

In other words, not only can Inhalants be used as a supplement for other drug use…

The fact that addicts report Inhalant use near the beginning of their life-long drug addictions is a definite warning sign.

Inhalants also have the potential to encourage users to explore other means of achieving a high.


“Inhalant use warrants watching as it may have serious and immediate health consequences, even for first time users.”

Yes, Inhalant use is a problem.

According to the 2005 Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Use Survey:


Short-term High

Nausea

Loss of Inhibition

VomitingSeizures

Slurred Speech

Unconsciousness


Prolonged Nausea

Lack of Appetite

Irritability

Liver Damage

Kidney Damage

Damage to Immune System

Brain DamageMuch More Dangerous Effects Include:


YesIn extreme cases…

The irregular heart rate resulting fromInhalant use can be fatal. This is called Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome (SSDS).

Abuse of Nitrous Oxide can also be fatal due to a lack of Oxygen flow to the brain.


Ridding the body of the poison (Detoxification) often takes up to a month, so it is important to help with abstinence efforts in order to prevent a relapse.

A shift in social circles is important,since Inhalant abuse is often associatedwith peer groups.

Be A Friend:

Call the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition at: 800-269-4237.


Just because possession of commonly inhaled substances is not illegal does not mean that they are not harmful!

According to the National According to the National Inhalant Prevention Inhalant Prevention Coalition:Coalition:

It is extremely important to avoid exciting or stressing people who have recently huffed; this can lead to SSDS.

The Indiana Prevention Resource Center’s Survey on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Use by Indiana Children and Adolescents; Data from 1996-2005.

http://www.drugs.indiana.edu/survey/atod/index.html

The National Inhalant Prevention Coalition

http://www.inhalants.org

The National Institute on Drug Abuse

www.nida.nih.gov/

Content in this presentation based, in part, on a Factline produced by Matthew Lee Smith, MPH, and Jonathan Agley, BA, in 2004 and © The Indiana Prevention Resource Center.

Contact us

Indiana Prevention Resource Center2735 East 10th Street, CA110Bloomington, IN 47408-2602

Phone: 1-800-346-3077 or 812-855-1237Fax: 812-855-4940

E-mail: [email protected]://www.drugs.indiana.edu

The Indiana Prevention Resource Center is funded, in part, by a contract with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, financially supported through HHS/Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant. The IPRC is operated by the Indiana University Department of Applied Health Science and School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. It is affiliated with the Department's Institute of Drug Abuse Prevention. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Trustees of Indiana University or the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration. Indiana University accepts full responsibility for the content of this publication. © Copyright, 2005 by the Trustees of Indiana University.


mailto:[email protected]

http://www.drugs.indiana.edu/

how youth can get high legally and without cost by: jon agley, m.p.h

Documents