STIFLE 'HUFFING' BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE

"Huffing" is suspected in the recent death of a Sunbury
teen-ager.

While the final determination on the cause of death is weeks away, in
some cases it is appropriate to act on assumptions. The term "huffing"
describes a variety of unusually self-destructive behaviors in which
people deliberately inhale the noxious fumes contained in household
products. Because the raw materials are relatively easy to obtain,
huffing is a form of substance abuse that, unfortunately, is
attractive to young people. It also takes a shocking toll on youth who
try it.

According to the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition, one in five
children has tried huffing by the eighth grade. While huffing is
"under the radar" of most drug-prevention efforts, studies indicate it
is as popular among young people as high-profile drugs like marijuana
- - and much more common than "hard" drugs like heroin.

While the practice is illegal, the tools of the trade are common,
innocent-seeming household items. That conundrum makes enforcement
especially difficult. The burden of preventing needless deaths and
permanent injuries from huffing rests squarely on "civilians."
Parents, peers, educators and neighbors need to be aware of the signs,
symptoms and dangers of huffing.

People who abuse inhalants exhibit a number of common signs. The NIPC
urges concerned community members to be on the lookout for:

Paint or stains on body or clothing.

Spots or sores around the mouth.

Red or runny eyes or nose.

Chemical breath odor.

Drunk, dazed or dizzy appearance.

Nausea, loss of appetite.

Anxiety, excitability, irritability.

It is never too early to intervene when huffing is suspected.
According to the NIPC, inhalant abuse can cause Sudden Sniffing Death
Syndrome any time people try it.

The 10th annual National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week is
scheduled for March 17-23. The event may have come a little late for
one child, but it is not too late to get the message across to others.

For more information on inhalant abuse, call (800) 269-4237, or see
the NIPC Web site at www.inhalants.org