Five Students Caught Huffing in Delaware

Via the Pocono Record in Delaware:

Five students in Delaware were charged for illegal use of solvents after they were caught huffing on a school bus.

Police learned that one of the students was supposed to be in an after-school program but instead walked to a nearby store to purchase computer duster. Three of the students huffed the duster on the way back to school. According to surveillance video, two additional students later inhaled the duster on a school bus.

Increased Inhalant Use among Hopkington Schools in Massachusetts

From the MetroWest Daily News in Framingham, Massachusetts

The MetroWest Community Health Care Foundation sponsored a survey of regional teen health risks and the results were presented to the school committee last Thursday.

Interestingly, the survey notes that “after alcohol, inhalants are the most commonly abused substance for middle school students.” It continues, “the number of students trying inhalants at some point in their lives rose from 9 percent to 14 percent.

The Assistant Principal said the school is now looking at "how and why students are abusing substances and where they get their supplies."

20 Percent Have Tried Inhalants

From White Mountain Independent in Arizona:

The article references a local survey of students in 7th through 12th grade. The results revealed that “20% of the respondents had tried inhalants (gasoline, glue, aerosol propellants).”

Inhalant Abuse Increases in Connecticut

From TheDay in New London, Connecticut:

The results of the Groton Adolescent Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition (GASP)’s youth substance abuse survey were released. The survey was administered to students in both middle and high school in May 2008.

Shockingly, while “most substance abuse appeared to be trending downward” inhalant abuse among 7th and 8th graders inhalant use increased from 2004 to 2008.”

14% of 4th and 5th graders in ND using inhalants

From the Grand Forks Herald in North Dakota:

Results of the Youth Risk and Protective Factor Survey taken by students in Grand Forks Public Schools last spring have been released.

From the report, “A survey of Grand Forks students says 14 percent of fourth and fifth-graders have sniffed glue, paint and other inhalants."

Within the article, off to the left-hand side there is a running survey about the above statistic. At the time of this post, 63% of the readers were shocked by this statement.

Surprising Reasons for Student Drug Use

From digtriad.com , August 4th, 2008

A New York study reveals new insight into the reasons why teens use drugs.

The study shows that of 6,511 polled teens, 73% report that school stress and pressure is the main reason for drug use. “Ironically, only 7% of parents believe that teens use drugs to cope with stress.”

Over the past decade, studies have indicated a steady changing trend in what teens perceive as the motivations for using drugs. The "to have fun" rationales are declining, while motivations to use drugs to solve problems are increasing.

On the positive side, the study confirms that overall abuse remains in a steady decline among teens. Marijuana, ecstasy, inhalants, methamphetamine alcohol and cigarette usage continue to decrease.