What Everyone Needs To Know About Inhalant

Abuse

OUR GOAL To provide students, staff, families, and the communities of the

Los Angeles Unified School District with comprehensive support services and resources to promote the awareness, education, and prevention of inhalant abuse.

What Is Inhalant Abuse?

 Deliberate inhalation of fumes, vapors or gases to become intoxicated

 “Sniffing” or “Huffing”

 More than 1,400 household products can be abused

 Over 2.1 million youth, ages 12-17, have used an inhalant to get intoxicated

Inhalant Abuse Starts Early

  1 in 4 youth admit to having used inhalants by the 8th grade.

  Third most abused substance after alcohol and marijuana for 9th graders and third most abused substance after marijuana and painkillers for 11th graders.

  Inhalant Abuse usually begins at age 10 or 11. However children as young as 6 have been known to experiment with inhalants.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System Survey, 2003 California Attorney General; 12th Biennial California Student Survey, 2007-08.

Commonly Abused Products  Gases  Nitrous oxide, helium, refrigerants

 Cleaning Agents  Spot removers, degreasers

 Solvents and Fuels  Butane, propane, nail polish remover,

paint thinner/remover, correction fluid, permanent markers, gasoline, engine octane boosters

Commonly Abused Products  Aerosols  Spray paint, hair spray, air freshener,

deodorant, fabric protector, computer keyboard cleaners

 Adhesives  Model airplane glue, rubber cement,

PVC cement  Cooking Products  Cooking spray, aerosol whipped cream

toppings, canned cheese products  Nitrites  Amyl nitrite, butyl nitrite (“poppers” or

“snappers”)

“Whippets,” “crackers” and balloons (aka “nos/z”) associated with nitrous oxide abuse

Methods of Abuse  “Sniffing” - inhaling directly through the nose

from a product container, plastic and/or paper bag, including chip bags, soda cans, clothing, back packs.

 “Huffing” - inhaling through the mouth from a chemical-soaked rag, open container or balloon.

 “Bagging” - inhaling through the nose and/or mouth. Example: Putting a bag over one’s head and inhaling.

For maximum effect, youth inhale deeply and then take several more short breaths.

Risky Business…

 Nervous system and brain damage

 Irreversible damage to liver and kidneys, bone marrow

 Numbness and tingling of the hands and feet and/or muscle weakness

 Hearing loss, visual impairment

 Sudden Sniffing Death  Individuals can die the first time or

anytime from inhalant use.  22% of SSD-related deaths were as a

result of first time use.

Common Misclassified Injuries…

 Inhalant use is often underreported due to misidentified injuries:  Suffocation as a result of the displacement

of oxygen in the lungs  Choking on vomit

 Asphyxiation when plastic bag covers the head

 Explosion or combustion of volatile fumes  Other accidents related to the loss of

consciousness and/or loss of motor skills

Common Misclassified Injuries…

Be on High Alert

 Toxic effects are short-lived (average 30 seconds to 3 minutes)

 First clues  Change in behavior at home and/or

school  Drop in grades and loss of interest in

favorite activities  Change in friends

 Medical signs are often non-specific  No quick diagnostic tests available  Difficult to detect the specific product

used

Physical Warning Signs

 Drunk, dazed or dizzy appearance

 Glassy or watery eyes/nose

  Slurred or disoriented speech

  Lack of physical coordination

 Nausea, loss of appetite

  Spots, burns, sores around the mouth

 Chemical odor on clothing and/or breath

 Having multiple household products without a reason

 Hidden baggies, rags, or empty aerosols in unusual places

 Whipped topping or other household aerosols are always low on propellant

 Excessive use of perfumes, body sprays, breath mints to hide odor of chemicals

Other Warning Signs

Other Warning Signs

 Paint or other products on face, lips, nose or fingers

 Fingernails painted with permanent markers or correction fluid

 Constant smelling of clothing, markers, rags

 Butane lighters (empty or partially filled) or refill cans especially if youth doesn’t smoke

 Multiple canisters or overuse of computer keyboard cleaners

INHALANTS KILL

PERMANENTBRAIN DAMAGEMEMORY LOSS

HEARINGLOSS

NOSE BLEEDSLOSS OF SMELL

SLURREDSPEECH

SUFFOCATIONIRREGULARHEART BEAT

HEART ATTACKAND SUDDEN DEATH

NAUSEA ANDVOMITINGLIVER

DAMAGEKIDNEY

DAMAGE

MUSCLE DAMAGEAND CRAMPING

ABDOMINALPAIN

BONE MARROWDEPRESSION

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INVOLUNTARYPASSING OF

URINE & FECES

Short-Term Effects   Headache

  Abdominal pain

  Muscle weakness

  Severe mood swings

  Violent behavior

  Slurred speech

  Numbness, tingling in hands and feet

  Visual disturbances

  Fatigue

  Lack of coordination

  Apathy

  Impaired judgment

  Dizziness

  Lethargy

  Stupor

  Loss of consciousness

  Limb spasms

Long-Term Effects

 Weight loss

 Muscle weakness

 Disorientation

 Inattentiveness

 Lack of coordination

 Depression

 Memory Loss

Brain Damage in a Toluene Abuser

National Institute on Drug Abuse, courtesy of Neil Rosenberg, M.D.

Brain images show shrinkage of brain tissue in a toluene abuser, B, as compared to a non-abusing individual, A. Note the smaller size and the larger, empty (dark) space within the toluene abuser’s brain.

healthy abuser

BOOKING PHOTO

  Forty-one year old man arrested for "abusing harmful intoxicants.” He huffed spray paint and needed more. Law enforcement officials stated his pupils were constricted and he spoke very slowly.

Reasons for Abuse

 Availability – Products are readily available at home, schools, and neighborhood stores.

  Legal – In California, it is not illegal to sell most inhalable products to minors.

  Inexpensive – Products can be purchased for less than a dollar.

 Quick Acting – Effects are felt within seconds and are short-lived, which leads to more repetitive usage.

  Easy to Use – Inhalant abuse does not require traditional paraphernalia. Plastic bags and clothing, which are accessible to youth, are common items used.

Approaches to Teaching Inhalant Abuse Prevention

 Inhalant abuse prevention should start in kindergarten.

 Discuss the damaging effects of inhalants on the brain and body.

 Associate abusable products with poisons, fire hazards and body pollutants.

 Encourage safe use of products according to directions.

Approaches to Teaching Inhalant Abuse Prevention (continued…)

 Education about inhalant use can increase the likelihood of abuse when not approached correctly.

 It is important not to stimulate curiosity or experimentation.

Approaches to Avoid

 Do not discuss specific products that could be abused.

 Do not inform students that inhalants can get you “high.” This will make them associate inhalable products with drugs, instead of poisons.

 Never explain or demonstrate techniques for inhaling products to students.

For Parents The Inhalant Abuse Prevention Kit offers

brochures and fact sheets with suggested talking tips for youth.

For younger children, parents should:

 Play a game: “Is it safe to smell or touch?”

 Discuss the purpose of household products

For older children, parents should:

 Ask if they know about inhalant abuse

 Tell them about the physical and emotional consequences

 Monitor your teen’s activities

 Do not mention specific products

For School Staff The Inhalant Abuse Prevention Kit offers grade-

specific standards based curriculum.

For younger students, staff should:

 Discuss the term “toxic”

 Associate inhalants with “poisons”

 Practice reading product labels

For older students, staff should:

 Teach students the importance of using household products safely

 Teach students about the adverse effects inhalants have on the brain and body

Treatment Options Are Limited

 Traditional drug treatment facilities do not commonly admit inhalant abusers because:

 Failure rate is very high  Treatment takes months, possibly years  Addiction to inhalants is as strong as that to

cocaine  Most treatment facilities are not equipped

to handle complexity of abusers’ emotional and physical needs

In An Emergency

  If someone is unconscious, call 911 immediately.

  If you suspect someone is under the influence of an inhalant:  Immediately seek assistance from your school

nurse and administrator.  Keep them calm to reduce cardiac stress.  Whenever possible, identify product(s) to

facilitate emergency response.  Contact the Poison Control Center at (800) 222-1222 or the “800 Number” on the label of the product.

LAUSD BUL-3277.1

CALIFORNIA INHALANT LAWS

Legislature recognizes inhalants as a “drug.”

California Penal Code § 13860

In 2007, the State Legislature declared its support to increased efforts by local law enforcement agencies working in conjunction with school districts to suppress and prevent drug abuse, specifically identifying Inhalants as a recognized drug.

CALIFORNIA INHALANT LAWS

Penal Code § 380: Selling or Distributing Toluene-Based Products to Minors is Illegal

Penal Code § 381: Possession of Toluene-Based Products to Get High is Illegal

Penal Code § 381b: Possession of Nitrous Oxide to get High is Illegal

Penal Code § 381c: Selling or Distributing Nitrous Oxide to Minors is Illegal

For more information, please visit: www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html

Society

Parents

Peers

Family

Educators

Community

Media

Role Models

Addressing the inhalant abuse

issue is everyone’s

responsibility.

PSA

Inhalant Related Resources

Web-based Training for Parents www.inhalantabusetraining.org

Alliance for Consumer Education

www.inhalant.org

National Inhalant Prevention Coalition

www.inhalants.org  

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

www.inhalants.drugabuse.gov

 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration

www.ncadi.samhsa.gov

Partnership for a Drug-Free America

www.drugfreeamerica.org

Healthy City www.healthycity.org

Poison Control Center (800) 222-1222

211 LA County (formerly known as Info Line) 211 or (800) 339-6993

For access to community health and human services in the Los Angeles County and City areas, 211 is available 24 hours/day, in multiple languages.

http://schoolsafety.lausd.net/

Collaborative Partners   Los Angeles Unified School District

  Local District 5, LAUSD

 Office of City Attorney, City of Los Angeles

  Los Angeles Police Department

  Hollenbeck Teen Community Police Advisory Board

 Alliance for Consumer Education

 National Inhalant Prevention Coalition

  Partnership for a Drug Free America