Under federal law, inhalants are not classified as controlled substances mainly because many household cleaning products or aerosol cans can be used as inhalants, making it difficult for the justice system to authorize substance abuse treatment for inhalant abusers. Currently, Massachusetts family members, physicians, and law enforcement have the capacity to petition the courts for substance abusers to receive court-mandated alcohol or substance abuse treatment in state-approved rehabilitation facilities. Court-ordered treatment usually involves substance abuse rehabilitation residency for 30–90 days, depending on the severity of the substance abuse and its related problems. However, the existing statute overlooks the need for rehabilitation for inhalant abusers whose substance abuse dependencies and addictions tend to go untreated.

Inhalant abuse, which involves sniffing or inhaling toxic fumes from chemical liquid, spray, and gas products to achieve a high, is most common among 12–17 year olds. In 2007, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimated that 1 million teenagers were dependent on or abusing inhalants that year. Around 17.2% of adolescents who abuse drugs admit that inhalants were their first substance of abuse. Because inhalants do not gain as much notice as illicit substances do in the eyes of the law, inhalant abuse—or “huffing”—can often serve as a gateway drug for more harmful substance abuse problems. Inhalants can create anything from a small high to cardiac arrest when inhaled, and can even lead to death; essentially, there are no safe levels of abuse when children decide to inhale dangerous toxic vapors.

With passage of this new state law, Rep. Murphy hopes to bring more focus on this serious problem and assist local families who are affected by inhalant abuse get the help they need. Inhalant abuse has the capacity to cause severe adverse affects including respiratory and cardiac problems, depression, uncharacteristic behavior, anger, aggressiveness, and mood swings. SAMHSA has reported on relationships found between inhalant abuse by teenagers and major depressive episodes and delinquent behavior. Families affected by inhalant use in their households may feel powerless against preventing their addicted teenagers from accessing everyday products in the kitchen, bathroom, or garage that can be used for inhalant abuse. With instatement of Rep. Murphy’s bill, the courts can now have the ability to intervene during these crucial moments for teenagers and provide them with the treatment they need, and hopefully prevent further growth of this risky behavior among youths.

Source: Boston.com, Murphy Touts Passage of Inhalant Bill, August 3, 2010

Teens aren’t the only problem group, as it turns out. Naples police arrested Jennifer Marie Fernandez after she was found passed out in a puddle of vomit behind an office supply store with two empty cans of dust remover.

Fernandez had been arrested twice before in the past year after passing out from dust remover in bathrooms at McDonalds and Wal-Mart. She is one of three women in their mid-to-late 30s arrested on charges of huffing dust remover in the same county.

“I would imagine that these women are probably addicted to huffing, that it is their drug of choice, and they probably started out with that being their drug of choice and kind of followed it,” said Christine Holmes in the Naples News. Holmes is a licensed mental health counselor and director of substance abuse and specialty services at the David Lawrence Center.

While three women does not signal a pandemic, it does highlight that the problem of huffing is bigger than once anticipated. In fact, roughly 20 percent of people who seek services at the David Lawrence Center have tried inhalants, yet fewer than 1 percent are actually addicted to huffing.

This low number could have something to do with the side effects that include drooling, vomiting and headaches. Even hard core drugs don’t offer such results. But you don’t have to be addicted to be harmed.

“For some people it could be their 1,000th huff. For some people it could be the first huff that kills them, causes brain damage, causes hearing loss, paralysis, muscle spasms,” Holmes said. “Huffing is like playing Russian roulette. You’re actually killing brain cells and ceasing oxygen from going to your brain. And you’re poisoning yourself.”
 

The National Inhalant Prevention Coalition (NIPC) and SAMHSA kicked off National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week at a press conference featuring information and personal stories about the dangers of inhalant use or "huffing." One of the leading participants in this year’s event was the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), which represents more than 67,000 osteopathic physicians (DOs). The organization urged its members to take continuing education programs designed to help enhance physician awareness of this risk to youth.

The need to increase awareness of this public health risk among physicians, parents, and others cannot come too soon for Kevin Talley, the father of Amber Ann Suri, who died in February 2009 after huffing. Her parents suspected something was going on when they noticed she had a pungent smell, glassy eyes, and complained about sinus problems. Although she was taken to a doctor, her real problem was not identified and she was treated only for her sinus symptoms. She died shortly thereafter.

Ashley Upchurch, a 17-year-old recovering from addiction to inhalants and other drugs, spoke at the press conference about the consequences of huffing, the importance of identifying and treating inhalant abuse, and the hope of recovery. "Inhalants were a cheap, legal, and an intense high that would also enhance the feeling I would get from other drugs," she said. "These highs nearly destroyed my life." In recovery for two years, Ashley now participates in a recovery program and is "giving back by sharing (her) story of hope with others."

Young people sniff products such as refrigerant from air conditioning units, aerosol computer cleaners, shoe polish, glue, air fresheners, hair sprays, nail polish, paint solvents, degreasers, gasoline, or lighter fluids. Youngsters intentionally inhale these substances to get high. Most parents are not aware that use of inhalants can cause "Sudden Sniffing Death"—immediate death due to cardiac arrest—or lead to addiction and other health risks.

SAMHSA data from the 2006-2008 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health show a rate of lifetime inhalant use among 12-year-olds of 6.9 percent, compared to a rate of 5.1 percent for nonmedical use of prescription type drugs; a rate of 1.4 percent for marijuana; a rate of 0.7 percent for use of hallucinogens; and a 0.1 rate for cocaine use.

"We continue to face the challenge of increasing experimentation and intentional misuse of common household products among the youngest and most vulnerable segments of our population—12-year-olds. The data are ominous and their implications are frightening because of the toxic, chemical effects of these legal products on growing minds and bodies. One of the front-line defenses against inhalant use is the family health care provider. This is why the action of the American Osteopathic Association is so important and why we are so proud that they are joining us and our partners in this public health campaign," Harvey Weiss, NIPC executive director, said.

The risk of inhalants is much more well-known today, but is often still downplayed by those who believe their children are immune. Even worse, drug education programs – also known as drug awareness programs – did more than just educate kids to the dangers of drugs. At times, these programs actually showed kids just how easily they could get high.

A My High Plains piece focused on the choices of Kelli Crockett, who revealed that a middle school drug awareness program opened up the door to new highs for her. By 13, she was already drinking and smoking pot and in looking for a different high, found it in her cleaning cabinet at home.

According to government estimates, 17 percent of adolescents have tried inhalants at least once. As Ashley Kilpatrick, certified addiction counselor, points out, it is accessible. Finding products to deliver the high is extremely easy, yet most teens don’t understand the dangers inherent in these products.

Inhalants pose an extreme risk to users as they cut off oxygen to the brain. Even huffing just once can kill, although instances have been rare. And the signs are hard to notice, especially as many of them mirror normal teenage mood swings. For Crockett, it was an overdose that nearly took her life that finally got the attention of her parents. To best prevent such a scare, parents need to be real and they need to be watching.