Headlines

The Morning Sentinal of central Maine covered poisons and inhalant abuse for the second time in two weeks today, with "Poisons in Plain Sight Putting Our Children At Risk". They advise parents to talk to their children at an early age:

Because inhalants are so common, there is little that police can do to interdict them, and there is little the Legislature can do to ban them.

Fighting inhalant use, like the task of fighting drug use in general, is best addressed through education. That education is best started early, by parents and teachers who know the risks and the signs of inhalant use.

Among the symptoms to look for are apathy in school, falling grades, unexplained absences, a dazed or dizzy appearance, anxiety, excitability and irritability.

InjuryBoard.com featured an article Friday entitled "Inhalants Most Popular Drug for Pre-Teens". It summarizes many of the statistics that were presented on Thursday by the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition.

AdoptionBlogs.com also addressed the issue in "Inhalants Are the Drug of Choice for Those Becoming Teenagers". This article focuses on how inhalant abuse can affect children who are adopted or in foster homes, explaining that,

Inhalants are chosen because they are readily accessible at home or school and the kids typically don’t pay for them. This makes them attractive to kids who want to use drugs. Children in foster care, or adopted at an older age are particularly vulnerable to this behavior. They may have previously lived with drug abuse. They may also be looking for a quick fix to feelings of confusion or anger over being adopted or losing their birth family. Forty-five percent of teens who used inhalants suffer from psychiatric disorders, compared with 29 percent of teens who used other drugs.

WordScrawl touched on the issue in "Oh the Drugs We Will Find". It is not specifically written about inhalants but does feature them prominently, arguing that eliminating products that can be abused may not be as effective as teaching our children good habits. According to Amanda Roberts,

As we outlaw more and more of these minor drugs, our kids turn to other things to get the same buzz. For example, when there was a crack down on drugs in schools there was a surge in inhalants. Children will always be able to get a hold of things that they should not and will find a way to get a high. Spray paint, permanent markers, household cleaners, all these things can be used to get a high. If your child wants to get high, they will find a way to get high! [...]

While it seems very negative of me to give this expression of inevitability, this is truly what I think. As many first time parents soon learn, you cannot baby proof the entire world. The same goes for protecting your tweens and teens, but I know you won’t stop trying. The insistence of parents led my high school to outlaw common inhalants about two years before I entered high school. On the list: Liquid Paper (White Out), permanent markers, paint, and washable markers. It seems outrageous doesn’t it? The key to stopping our kids from abusing drugs is to simply teach them restraint. [...]

“Think out loud” for your children; walk them through your decisions and reasons so that they will take on your style of reasoning. For example, you go to cousin Beth’s wedding. You are served a glass of Champaign and there is an open bar; what do you do? Well, after you finish your Champaign, sit with your child and think with them. Should I get another drink? Well I know I have to work in the morning and I want to be aware enough to enjoy Beth’s wedding, so I think I’ll just have a soda. Walking them through this will help you to take on your good habits.