Posts Tagged inhalant use

Much has been written about the substances that are being abused by nowadays – illegal substances such as cocaine and heroin, prescription painkillers, alcohol. While these substances can now be relatively easy to get for some, they still are not things that a teenager can simply waltz into a store and get for themselves. But when it comes to inhalants, we have a different story.

A feature on freep.com shares the experience of Wonder Lake, Illinois resident Dale Hunt, and how he lost his 18-year old son Aaron just last month. Experts say that there are a lot of teens who get their fix from inhalants, but parents have no idea about how popular they have become – or how dangerous they can be. Dale Hunt said: “I want parents and kids to know. People don’t need to die this way.”

The common inhalants used by teens are things that are cheap and can easily be bought by anyone: shoe polish, spray paint, gasoline. For Aaron Hunt, it was propane that is used to fuel lanterns. After huffing the substance, the young Hunt went into a seizure, and his heart had stopped by the time paramedics arrived.

The choice made by teens to abuse inhalants goes beyond the fact that it is cheap and can easily be bought; it is also not detected by most drug tests. It is important, therefore, for parents to recognize the warning signs: weight loss, deterioration of memory, chemical smells on your child’s breath, and the existence of chemical products in your child’s room or backpack. Even air freshener or computer cleaner may be considered as warning signs, according to Harvey Weiss, director of the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition.