The Latest National Survey Reveals Inhalant Abuse Statistics

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAHMSA) recently released a national survey on substance abuse from 2008 to 2009. The survey revealed that substance abuse has generally increased, and inhalants were particularly popular for first-time substance abusers.

Youth Statistics

- Inhalant abuse rate has not decreased among youths since 2002.

- Inhalants are popular first-time drugs. About 3.1 million people aged over 12 used an illicit drug for the first time in 2009. Among them, a startling 9.8 percent chose inhalants as their first illicit drug.

- Youths also make up the majority of inhalant abusers. In 2009, 0.8 million people aged 12 or older used inhalants, and 67.9 percent of them were under age 18 when they first used inhalants.

- 10.0 percent of all youths aged 12 to 17 were illicit drug users in 2009, and 1.0 percent of them used inhalants.

- Among 12 or 13 year olds, 1.4 percent used inhalants, and 0.8 percent of 14, 15, 16, or 17 year olds used inhalants.

- The average age of first-time inhalant abuser remains under the age of 17 since 2008. In 2008, the average age was 15.9, and in 2009, it was 16.9 years.

Adult Statistics

- Among adults aged 26 or older, 6.3% percent were current illicit drug users in 2009, and inhalants were used by 0.1 percent of them.

Overall Dependency

- About 164,000 people aged 12 or older developed dependence on inhalants in 2009.

Statistical information as well as graphical representation for this report are accredited to SAMHSA's full report, which is available here. Please feel free to check it out for more detailed information on inhalant abuse.

Prince Harry Caught Using Inhalants

Via The Daily Mail in the UK:

The newspaper reports that last Friday 26 year-old Prince Harry was observed inhaling from "several balloons of nitrous oxide provided at £1.50 a time at a charity fancy-dress party in Dulwich, South London."

The article quotes someone at the party remarking that Harry "loves laughing gas. It is only mild and gives you a two-minute high.But if you have had alcohol or other drugs, it can space you out for much longer. Some people pass out after inhaling it."

it also defines nitrous oxide as the propellant in aerosols and a mild anaesthetic which has also become a recreational drug of choice for the middle classes. "It is known as 'hippy crack' for the euphoria it induces."

The article points out that at least two deaths have been attributed to it in the last few years. In 2007, a a 23 year-old man was found dead at his home next to a large cylinder of the gas and in 2009, comedian Martin Cassidy died last year after accidentally overdosing.

Arrested After Huffing in an ACE Hardware Bathroom Stall

From Brookings Register in South Dakota:

A 22 year old woman suffered first-and second-degree chemical burns on her face, hands, and arms in an inhalant related incident.

She was caught huffing products in an ACE Hardware store last Saturday evening. Employees noted that the woman refused to come out of the bathroom. The police report noted a chemical odor coming from the bathroom and the officer had seen a woman in the stall “with an aerosol can to her mouth.” Three other cans were found in a garbage can in the stall.

She was charged with ingesting a toxic substance but will also be charged with petty theft because she didn’t pay for three of aerosol cans she had used.

Huffing Caused Reckless Driving in Pennsylvania

From Lebanon Daily News in Pennsylvania:

The police blotter references a 40 year old woman charged after a July 9th accident. She had been huffing computer duster. She was also charged with “illegal use of certain solvents and noxious substances and reckless driving”

Wyoming Car Crash-Inhalants Suspected

From CBS4.com in Denver:

On Sunday, a 16 year-old driver in Sheridan, Wyoming crashed his car into a house, injuring his three passengers. Police suspect the driver was huffing computer duster prior to the crash.

The driver was taken to the hospital and released but his three passengers are still hospitalized. He could face charges of “reckless driving, driving without a license, and driving under the influence of an inhalant”

South Carolina Man Arrested for Inhalant Abuse

From The Times and Democrat in South Carolina:

A 29 year old man from Westminster, South Carolina was arrested for huffing paint and loitering last Sunday. Police say that the man was found with gold paint on his face and hands. He was also unstable on his feet, and denied huffing paint.

The man could not produce neither his name nor his birthdate. According to the report, this was the man's second arrest for the same time in the past month.

Convicted Rapist Caught Huffing in Newport, Oregon

From KVAL.com in Oregon:

A convicted rapist in Newport, Oregon was caught huffing from an aerosol can last Saturday on a no-bail warrant for a parole violation.

The man was contacted after the police received reports about a man inhaling fumes from a can. He was first taken to the hospital, due to his highly intoxicated nature.

Once released, he was arrested on parole violation charges from convictions for rape and robbery. He was also charged for disorderly conduct.

19 Year Old Minnesota Man Injured Two in Inhalant Related Crash

A 19 year old man was sentenced to 90 days in jail, five years probation and a $500 fine for injuring two passengers while driving under the influence of inhalants. The judge also ordered restitution in an undetermined amount.

The Hastings, Minnesota resident plead guilty to two felony counts of Criminal Vehicular Operation (causing great bodily harm while under the influence of a hazardous substance). The charges stemmed from a car crash last August that left two teen passengers suffering from broken bones and lacerations.

Please note this is a follow up to an earlier story found here.

Ohio Car Crash- Inhalants Suspected

From the Marietta Times in Ohio:

Last week a 19 year-old driver drove her car off the road “striking an embankment, utility pole and several trees before overturning.”

The accident report notes that the driver and her two 18 year old passengers all admitted to huffing from a computer duster and the driver “blacked out after the third time.”

The teens were transported to hospitals and released. The driver has been charged with “operating a vehicle while intoxicated and abusing a harmful intoxicant.”

- And take a minute to read through the comments at the end of the article. Some extremely interesting points.....

Inhalant Abuse on the Rise in Illinois

From WTHI in Indiana:

In a follow-up story to the inhalant related fatality--some interesting Illinois inhalant data:

• In East Central Illinois officials say they seeing a slight increase in inhalant use.
• More than 15% of youths report having tried inhalants.
• That number has increased from 13% since 2006.
• The most common age for usage of inhalants is during junior high.

Boys Found with Spice- Arrested for Inhalant Abuse

From The Standard Journal in Idaho:

Last week two boys were found in possession of “Spice, tobacco and drug paraphernalia.” Police found the two in a parked car behind a medical office building.

The boys were “issued misdemeanor citations for possession of inhalants by a minor and underage possession of tobacco.” The police department’s policy is that “smoking Spice falls under Idaho's prohibition of use of inhalants by juveniles.”

The boys were questioned and released to their parents.

The article notes that “Spice is a legally available blend of herbs sprayed with chemicals that can be used as a substitute for marijuana.” More info can be found here.

18 Year Old Illinois Man Dies in Inhalant Related Crash

From WTHI TV in Illinois:

Thursday morning an 18-year old Illinois man was killed in an inhalant related car accident.

The man drove off the road, “into a cornfield, through a fence & struck a parked trash truck.” On the way to the hospital he told emergency personnel he had been huffing and police found a can of computer duster in the car. The man was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Inhalant Abuse Data From Guam

From Pacific Daily News on Guam:

This follow-up story to the inhalant related death in Guam earlier this week includes some interesting data.

• As many as 15% of Guam middle and high school students have tried inhalants.
  
• According to an annual study by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, inhalant abuse has been more prevalent on Guam than across the nation-consistently from 1997-2007.

Five Arkansas Teens Crash Car After Huffing

From the Crawford County Press Argus-Courier in Arkansas:

Last Friday at 9:30 am, five male teens (an 18 year-old and four under-age teens between the ages of 15-17) were involved in an inhalant abuse related accident. Their car hit a tree and “all but one of the teens fled the scene after the wreck.” The four under-age teens were truant from school at the time of the accident

Inside the car police found 5 cans of compressed gas dusters which they determined had been stolen from the local Wal-Mart Supercenter.

The 18 year old was charged with “arrested on suspicion of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, shoplifting, being under the influence of an intoxicating compound and leaving the scene of an accident.” The other four were each charged with shoplifting, being under the influence of an intoxicating compound and leaving the scene of an accident.” One of them was transported to the juvenile detention centerand the others were released to their parents.

Teen Boy Dies on Guam-Butane Suspected

Via Pacific Daily News on Guam:

A teenage was found dead earlier this week, a can of butane found alongside him. The butane is suspected as the cause of death.

The article notes "it is illegal to see butane to minors on Guam since 2005 but that police didn’t start enforcing the law until 2006, after the inhalant claimed the life of a 14 year old boy”

Man Huffs Then Uses Paint Can to Break Man's Nose

From the Lawrence Journal World in Kansas:

Yesterday, a 33 year old man was arrested for an inhalant related incident that had occurred the previous day.

The man had been huffing paint when he “became involved in a physical altercation with another man.” He hit the man in the face with the paint can, breaking his nose. He was arrested on charges of “aggravated and simple battery.”

Virginia Man Arrested for Inhalant Abuse at North Carolina Wal-Mart

From the Gaston Gazette in North Carolina:

Yesterday am, a shopper at Wal-Mart called police after seeing a man slumped over in his car. The Police Chief responded and found a 24 year old Virginia man huffing computer duster. He saw the man “man inhale the toxin then slump over the steering wheel.”

The driver was arrested and “charged with inhaling toxic vapors and given a $500 unsecured bond.”

New Inhalant Data in Door County, Wisconsin

From the Green Bay Gazette in Wisconsin:

An interesting inhalant related stat in the article: According to the 2010 Door County Youth Risk Behavior Survey "One in Eight Door County middle school students are using inhalants — such as paints, glues, gases, or cleaners to get high"