Inhalant abuse is often thought of as a harmless habit, one that kids will outgrow. Like alcohol, inhalants are central nervous system depressants. Sniffing chemicals is attractive to youngsters because it offers them an easy, cheap thrill which is readily available. Studies show that children begin abusive sniffing at a relatively young age - 8 to 12 years old. Most young children who start using inhalants move on to alcohol and marijuana. They are typically polydrug users and will use whatever is available, however their drug of choice will be inhalants.

Sniffing highly concentrated amounts of some of these chemicals can produce heart failure and instant death. Inhalants can starve the body of oxygen or make the heart beat faster and irregularly which can kill sniffers, known to medical personnel as "sudden sniffing death" or "fright and flight deaths". The signs of a sniffer will be revealed to you by what you see, smell and hear as well as what you observe generally over a period of time.

SEE:

You might see dilated pupils; glazed, reddened, unfocused eyes; a guarded expression; a disoriented manner; blisters around the nose; sore cracked lips; unusual salivation; strange stains on clothing and body; disinhibition; unsteady muscle coordination as though intoxicated; black stools or faeces; deterioration of handwriting; staggering; lightheadedness; agitation.

SMELL:

You might smell bad, unpleasant breath; a chemical odour on body or clothes.

HEAR:

You might hear uncontrolled, irrelevant giggling; slurred speech; conversation indicating distorted perception of time and distance; too much coughing, sniffing; expressions of power and invincibility.

NOTICE:

You might notice abnormal drowsiness; painful withdrawal symptoms such as severe headaches as well as stomach and leg muscle cramps.

FIND:

You might find rags or clothes in the closet or other hidden corners in the backyard; dried stains on clothes smelling of chemicals; empty containers of abused products; old socks; plastic bags.

If any of this sounds familiar plan to act now. Face the facts and get the professional help your child needs. Sniffing is not a passing fancy that the child will outgrow. It is an addiction!

 INHALANTS - THEY CAN KILL YOU THE FIRST TIME YOU TRY THEM

SNIFFING CAN MAKE YOU VERY SICK AND YOU CAN DIE

You can die the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th or 41st time, any time, you try sniffing.

Don't be curious or pressured by your friends. You could be the one who dies the first time you try it. "Sudden Sniffing Death" can happen without any warning signs from your body. It happens because your heart will beat too fast or because there is no oxygen getting to your brain.

There is a very real risk of death from inhaling some products.

If you see someone using inhalants call 911 immediately or get adult help if available.

What else can happen to you?

If you are pregnant many of these chemicals can cause birth defects and deformities

You can lose consciousness and suffocate

You can lose your self control, cause seizures, vomiting, and skin colour changes

You can permanently damage your brain, lungs, nerves, liver, kidney and bones

You can become abusive and dangerous to yourself and others

You can see and hear frightening things that are not there

You can blackout and not remember what has happened to you

You can lose control of your bowels

You can lose your sense of taste, feeling, hearing and smelling

You can have hearing and seeing problems

You can become forgetful

You can lose muscle co-ordination and have trouble with or lose use of your arms and legs for a while

Some of the things kids sniff

aerosol whipping creams
air freshener
aeroplane glue
analgesic spray
polyvinyl chloride cement
asthma spray
butane
CO2 cartridges
contact cement
cooking sprays
degreaser
deodorant
dessert topping sprays
dry cleaning fluid
fabric protector
gasoline
gold and silver spray paint
hair spray
Halon (fire extinguishers)
marking pens
nail polish remover
nitrous oxide
plastic cement
plastic wood
poppers and rush
spot remover
toluene
typewriter correction fluid

(Source: Facts About Kids and Drugs, LFIA 1995)

Reading materials: Canadian Manufacturers of Chemical Specialities Association, Fighting Back: Helping Young People Kick The Sniffing Habit; Chemical Specialties Manufacturing Association, Aerosol Education Bureau; Inhalant Abuse: A Volatile Research Agenda, N.I.D.A. Research Monograph, 129, 1992, Sharp, C.W., Beauvais, F., Spence, R. Eds.;Thompson Anti-Sniff Group, Manitoba, Information package for teachers.