Research shows that most drug users usually start with volatile substance abuse before they become fully hooked on illegal drugs. The need to have drug education plays an important role to prevent young people from experimenting with these types of substances. It is very alarming to know that the youngest to die due to volatile substance abuse was a boy at seven years old!
The biggest problem that parents may face regarding this type of abuse is that most of these volatile substances are inexpensive and legally available. Simple household cleaning agents and substances found in offices may contain certain ingredients like solvents and propellants that can be easily inhaled. In a certain household, there may be up to 50 products that can be abused. Examples of these products are aerosols, nail polish removers, permanent marking pens, and paint thinners.
The vapors of these substances are usually inhaled directly when there are open containers or spray canisters left in the house. Unlike most drugs, there are no needles, pipes, or any material needed to administer the drugs. We often see children inhaling volatile substances in plastic bags or rags saturated with these harmful materials.
Inhaling these substances, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, may bring about some undesirable effects on the body. Adults and young children alike will experience symptoms like vomiting, headaches, hallucinations, and speech problems when exposed to these drugs. Solvent abuse can also dramatically decrease the amount of oxygen in the blood which can lead to hypnoxia. Things can go from worse to worst when a person continues this habit which will result to damage in the kidneys, brain, and liver. The nervous system will also be greatly affected and we all know what this can mean.
Proper education that starts in our homes plays a very important role. It would help if children’s curiosity will be addressed at the earliest stage so as not to promote experimenting on these harmful substances. Give enough information that may send the proper signal for children to stay away from these volatile substances.
Tags: drug abuse, household chemical abuse, volatile substance abuse
