Boredom Contributes to Inhalant Use in Oklahoma

The Muskogee Phoenix printed an article called "Parents Might Not Notice Kids 'Huffing'" last week, and featured several residents of the small town in Oklahoma giving their opinions on inhalant abuse.

One teenager, Madison Hayes, says that fun activities would decrease the experimentation with alcohol and drugs:

"Muskogee is a small town; there’s not a lot kids can do. Some of them just drink and smoke pot. They get to do the bragging, and they get to talk about their weekend. I think that more activities would be a positive thing to do.”

She also described someone she knew that had used inhalants, saying that "he tried it because he thought he would just get high, but it turned out to be one of the scariest things he’s ever done,” she said. “He said it was crazy and dumb, and the aftermath was so awful that he would never do it again. I don’t think he knew about the danger at the time, or he would not have done it.”

Valerie Grober, a pharmacist at Wagoner Community Hospital, claims that abusing inhalants is as common as smoking marijuana.

"Abuse of inhalants by middle school children has increased up to 44 percent over a two-year period,” she said. “The products used in huffing are readily available and for sale legally.”

She also advised parents to "remain involved. Many children think huffing is fun and are totally unaware of the very real dangers involved. ... Set a pattern of talking with and listening to your child from the time they are young.”