Huffing: The fad that could be killing a generation
By Christian Richardson, Journal staff writer | Posted: Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Huffing, bagging and sniffing are all forms of a seldom-discussed yet deadly drug abuse experts liken to a round of Russian roulette.
"Your incidence of a condition called sudden sniffing death, dropping dead ... is the same whether it's your first time using, your tenth time or your hundredth time," said Linda B. Kalin, managing director of the Iowa Statewide Poison Control Center.
Intentionally inhaling toxic chemicals in Iowa led to the death of one person in 2003 and another in 2000, according to the Iowa Department of Health. In 1999 a 16-year-old Sioux City North High School student died after huffing gasoline in Norwalk, Iowa.
For years inhalant abuse has been common among children as they find intoxicating fumes in gasoline, spray paint, hair spray and aerosols easily accessible and free of charge in the home, Kalin said. However, inhaling remains one of the lesser-spoken-of drug abuses as it falls under the radar to more widely used marijuana and methamphetamine.
"It's a problem in Sioux City," said Amy Bloch, program director of outpatient services at the Jackson Recovery Centers.
The concern stems from these children using addictive inhalants and experiencing their first high, Bloch said. She warns that inhalants provide a gateway to other drugs such as marijuana and methamphetamine. And all drug experts warn that sniffing aerosols and gasoline can damage the body.
Repeatedly inhaling toxic chemicals can damage the lungs, heart and brain, Kalin said. Bagging, when a user places a bag over his or her mouth and nose to inhale direct fumes, can cause suffocation, she added.
The side effects for chronic users could come two to five years down the road, when a person faces nerve problems in his or her brain, arms and legs, said Dr. Edward M. Bottei, medical director for the Iowa Statewide Poison Control Center. The nerve damage might affect memory; it could also affect balance, decrease sensations and cause muscle weakness, Bottei said.
Bloch gave the example of a 12-year-old boy who is now in treatment. The boy began inhaling fumes when he was 6-years-old and continued for five years. He now faces severe brain damage, she said.
A National Institute on Drug Abuse report released in December, 2004, indicated an overall decline in drug use from 2003 to 2004 nationwide. But doctors remain concerned with inhalants as the institute's survey showed an increase in the number of eighth-graders using them, the report stated.
Locally, the statistics remain low. In a 2004 SiouxLand Cares survey, 235 of 4,838 area students said they had used inhalants at least once in the prior 30 days. The majority of the users were in eighth-grade. Siouxland students in the sixth-, eighth-, 10th- and 12th-grades participated in the survey.
Sioux City Police Lt. Marti Reilly said the abuse is an infrequent problem in Sioux City. It runs in cycles usually among a group of friends when one person starts experimenting, Reilly said. The use often ends when someone in the group gets seriously ill from using the inhalants.
In Sioux City it's a misdemeanor to intentionally be under the influence of any toxic vapors or to smell fumes for the purpose of getting high. It's also illegal to buy products for the purpose of helping another person get high.
Since 2001 the police department has made 14 arrests on charges of being under the influence of toxic vapors, according to Sioux City Police Department data. The most recent arrest came March 5 after a semi-conscious man was found next to a spray paint can.
Reilly said parents need to be aware of their children purchasing materials such as spray paints. They also need to be observant of sandwich bags sitting around the house, and gasoline, paint and aerosol odors lingering in the home, he said.
A user might have irritation around his or her nose and mouth as well as constricted or dilated pupils, Reilly added.
Bloch advises users and parents of users to seek a counselor who can assess the problem and determine the appropriate intervention.
The Jackson Recovery Centers offer programs for youth just starting to abuse the drugs. The facility also treats teens who are chronic abusers, she said.
Bloch warns that parents should not dismiss the use of inhalants as experimental.
"It's just too deadly to mess with," she said.
"Your incidence of a condition called sudden sniffing death, dropping dead ... is the same whether it's your first time using, your tenth time or your hundredth time," said Linda B. Kalin, managing director of the Iowa Statewide Poison Control Center.
Intentionally inhaling toxic chemicals in Iowa led to the death of one person in 2003 and another in 2000, according to the Iowa Department of Health. In 1999 a 16-year-old Sioux City North High School student died after huffing gasoline in Norwalk, Iowa.
For years inhalant abuse has been common among children as they find intoxicating fumes in gasoline, spray paint, hair spray and aerosols easily accessible and free of charge in the home, Kalin said. However, inhaling remains one of the lesser-spoken-of drug abuses as it falls under the radar to more widely used marijuana and methamphetamine.
"It's a problem in Sioux City," said Amy Bloch, program director of outpatient services at the Jackson Recovery Centers.
The concern stems from these children using addictive inhalants and experiencing their first high, Bloch said. She warns that inhalants provide a gateway to other drugs such as marijuana and methamphetamine. And all drug experts warn that sniffing aerosols and gasoline can damage the body.
Repeatedly inhaling toxic chemicals can damage the lungs, heart and brain, Kalin said. Bagging, when a user places a bag over his or her mouth and nose to inhale direct fumes, can cause suffocation, she added.
The side effects for chronic users could come two to five years down the road, when a person faces nerve problems in his or her brain, arms and legs, said Dr. Edward M. Bottei, medical director for the Iowa Statewide Poison Control Center. The nerve damage might affect memory; it could also affect balance, decrease sensations and cause muscle weakness, Bottei said.
Bloch gave the example of a 12-year-old boy who is now in treatment. The boy began inhaling fumes when he was 6-years-old and continued for five years. He now faces severe brain damage, she said.
A National Institute on Drug Abuse report released in December, 2004, indicated an overall decline in drug use from 2003 to 2004 nationwide. But doctors remain concerned with inhalants as the institute's survey showed an increase in the number of eighth-graders using them, the report stated.
Locally, the statistics remain low. In a 2004 SiouxLand Cares survey, 235 of 4,838 area students said they had used inhalants at least once in the prior 30 days. The majority of the users were in eighth-grade. Siouxland students in the sixth-, eighth-, 10th- and 12th-grades participated in the survey.
Sioux City Police Lt. Marti Reilly said the abuse is an infrequent problem in Sioux City. It runs in cycles usually among a group of friends when one person starts experimenting, Reilly said. The use often ends when someone in the group gets seriously ill from using the inhalants.
In Sioux City it's a misdemeanor to intentionally be under the influence of any toxic vapors or to smell fumes for the purpose of getting high. It's also illegal to buy products for the purpose of helping another person get high.
Since 2001 the police department has made 14 arrests on charges of being under the influence of toxic vapors, according to Sioux City Police Department data. The most recent arrest came March 5 after a semi-conscious man was found next to a spray paint can.
Reilly said parents need to be aware of their children purchasing materials such as spray paints. They also need to be observant of sandwich bags sitting around the house, and gasoline, paint and aerosol odors lingering in the home, he said.
A user might have irritation around his or her nose and mouth as well as constricted or dilated pupils, Reilly added.
Bloch advises users and parents of users to seek a counselor who can assess the problem and determine the appropriate intervention.
The Jackson Recovery Centers offer programs for youth just starting to abuse the drugs. The facility also treats teens who are chronic abusers, she said.
Bloch warns that parents should not dismiss the use of inhalants as experimental.
"It's just too deadly to mess with," she said.
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Olia wrote on Sep 29, 2007 11:37 PM: