Blog Report

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

South Dakota Man Arrested for Erratic Driving After Huffing Behind the Wheel


Via Radio 1380 KOTA in South Dakota:

A 33 year old man has been arrested for DUI, Ingesting, a suspended license, and reckless driving after an inhalant abuse related incident.

Witnesses reported a vehicle driving off the road, over a sign, and in and out of oncoming traffic. The driver stumbled out his car, dropping a can of computer duster on the grass, and witnesses called police.

Montana Man Pleads Guilty to Huffing Behind the Wheel



The Bozeman Daily Chronicle in Montana:

A 28 year old man has pleaded guilty to “felony driving under the influence of a toxic substance.” He was arrested in April 2012 when officers found him passed out in his car in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant and has been jailed since that time. 

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Unique Approach to Curbing Huffing Gasoline and Propane in Canada



Via NunatsiaqOnline in Canada:
In Kugluktuk, the town is taking a unique approach to combating huffing gasoline and propane. Between January and March this year local carpenters built 121 lockable gas boxes and painted them bright yellow. They then gave them away to the community free so they could safely store their gas cans and propane tanks.
After an increase in inhalant abuse cases in 2012 including a death last summer the community started a “Protect Our Youth: Kugluktuk Inhalant Abuse Program.” In September they “put up 20 large posters and distributed brochures around town to alert the community about sniffing and educate people about the risks, signs and symptoms of inhalant abuse.” The following month they talked about huffing and sniffing on a radio show. In December they hosted a community gathering about the issue and from that meeting came the idea of the yellow boxes.

South Carolina Passed Out From Inhalants While Car Running



Via The Spartanburg Herald Journal in South Carolina:
A 30 year old man has been charged with driving under suspension and inhaling aromatics hydrocarbons after being found unconscious in his car this past weekend.
Last Sunday evening a deputy responded to a call for a male passed out in a car when he found a car parked sideways, blocking a street and still running.  A man was slumped over in the driver’s seat with his foot on the brake.  He was “sluggish, had slurred speech, and had silver paint around his mouth.” Inside the car the deputy found a can of silver spray paint and a sock with silver paint on it.

Wisconsin Woman Charged with Huffing Again


Via WQOW in Wisconsin: 

Last April a woman crashed her car into city hall after allegedly huffing behind the wheel. Then last week after a related court appearance she was again charged with huffing.

Police responded to a 911 call for a loud fight. The woman appeared “drunk and was slurring her speech.” Police found numerous cans of keyboard cleaner in her car and she admitted she had been huffing earlier the same day, before the court appearance regarding the April crash.

New Volatile Substance Abuse Decree in Fiji




After noting 212 inhalant abuse cases in 2011, Fiji has drafted a “Volatile Substance Abuse Decree.” The article notes: “Under the draft decree, a person who sells or supplies a volatile substance to a child in circumstances where it is reasonable to suspect that the child may inhale or use it to become intoxicated, commits an offence and is liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding $5000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years.”
A special task force from the Fiji Police Force will review and provide comments and the National Substance Abuse Advisory Council has also proposed a list of new volatile substances that should be included under the decree.