Cause of Death: Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome?

From Lufkin Daily News in Texas

Additional details concerning the death of a 40 year old Lufkin, Texas man have been released. Ace first reported on the incident earlier this week, as an adult male was discovered dead inside a local repair shop with a trash bag over his head, and clutching a canister of refrigerator coolant.

Police are now able to verify that the victim was indeed ‘huffing’ at the time of his death, but are still unsure as to whether the casualty can be attributed to ‘Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome’- the immediate death following inhalant misuse.

Inhalant abuse statistics reveal that one in three inhalant related fatalities occur among first time users. While it is still unclear as to whether the victim will be included in this percentile, “his death has indefinitely become one of the 125 inhalant-related deaths reported each year, according to the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition.”

The victim’s former employer (and repair store owner) felt content hiring a “reformed convict” but was unaware of any lingering substance abuse issues. In a statement issued to police the shop owner disclosed that he “didn’t even realize [the victim used drugs] until he found all of the containers of [coolant that had been ‘huffed,’] not knowing people even” engaged in such behaviors.

This unforeseeable tragedy should serve to remind us all just how widespread inhalant abuse truly is. Inhalants are likely to be used and abused by any individual, regardless of gender, race, financial status, or age.