Preventing Inhalant Abuse
A Parent’s Guide to 800.232.4424 (Voice/TTY) 860.793.9813 (Fax) www.ctclearinghouse.org Preventing Inhalant Abuse A Library and Resource Center on Alcohol, Tobacco, Other Drugs, Mental Health and Wellness Inhalant Abuse: It's Deadly. Inhalant abuse can What are the effects of inhalant abuse? kill. Sniffing can cause sickness and death. For example, It can kill suddenly, and it can kill those who sniff for victims may become nauseated, forgetful, and unable the first time. to see things clearly. Victims may lose control of their body, including the use of arms and legs. These effects Every year, young people in this country die of can last 15 to 45 minutes after sniffing. inhalant abuse. Hundreds suffer severe consequences, including permanent brain damage, loss of muscle In addition, sniffing can severely damage many parts control, and destruction of the heart, blood, kidney, of the body, including the brain, heart, liver, kidneys, liver, nerves, and bone marrow. and nerves. Ordinary household products, which can Even worse, victims can die suddenly -- without any be safely used for legitimate purposes, warning. "Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome" can occur can be problematic in the hands of an during or right after sniffing. The heart begins to inhalant abuser. overwork, beating rapidly but unevenly, which can lead to cardiac arrest. Even first-time abusers have Today more than 1,000 common household products been known to die from sniffing inhalants. are commonly abused. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reported that one in five American teenagers How can you tell if a young person is an inhalant have used inhalants to get high.
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