Car in Ditch after Huffing and Driving

Via the Republican Herald in Pennsylvania:

Two young women were taken to the hospital after a huffing-related car crash.

The driver lost control of the vehicle, crashed into a building, and the vehicle landed upside down in a ditch. Police discovered the crash while on patrol, and both women had to be removed from the car by emergency responders.

The driver had passed out after “huffing air duster” while driving, and the passenger had swallowed a bag of crack cocaine after the crash. In addition, both women admitted to consuming alcohol, and police found marijuana in the car.

Charges against the young women are pending.

Pennsylvania Man Steals and Huffs Duster

Via The Times-Tribune in Pennsylvania:

A Pennsylvania man was arrested after police found him lying on the ground after inhaling duster.

The man told police he was waiting for the bus, and when the police asked about the cans of duster around him, he simply responded, “I was huffing them.”

Police learned that he had stolen the cans from a convenience store, and they arrested the man for illegal use of solvents and noxious substances, public drunkenness and receiving stolen property. The man is currently in jail and has a hearing scheduled for next week

Inhalant Abuse Education in Wisconsin

Via Agri-View in Wisconsin:

Sue Nowak, a drug prevention specialist in Wisconsin, strives to warn parents about the dangers of products available that can be abused.

Focusing on communities in rural Wisconsin, she advises parents that drug abuse is not just a “big-city” problem. She describes the hazards of abusing over-the-counter drugs, marijuana, and inhalants.

Nowak says inhalants, in particular, are being abused by both children and adults. With products ranging from computer duster to refrigerant to whipped cream, the possibilities for abuse are numerous. She cites the many side effects of inhalant abuse, which include slurred speech, lack of coordination, hallucinations, rashes around the nose or mouth, and headaches. The consequences of inhalant abuse can include sudden death, unconsciousness, suffocation, and damage to the organs.

Nowak encourages parents to look for the signs of inhalant abuse like product stains on the face and discarded containers “in quantity.”

ACE and the Boys and Girls Club Celebrate NIPAW

Yesterday, the ACE team went to the Hopkins Branch Boys and Girls Club in D.C. to share tips about poison prevention.

The presentation provided facts about poison prevention and encouraged club members to always ask an adult before smelling, touching, or tasting an unknown substance. The club members were eager to show off their acquired knowledge about poison prevention by answering questions, and they enjoyed trying to distinguish “look-alikes” (poisons that look like safe items).

After the presentation, the club members tested their home safety skills with the Heroes of the Health League game (which you can play here). They also completed an activity sheet about poison prevention, which can be downloaded at this link.

Members showing that poisons can hurt you even if you smell them!

Working hard on the activity sheets

Enjoying the Heroes of the Health League game

ACE would like to thank Monique Lee at the Hopkins Branch Club for allowing us to share the message of poison prevention with the wonderful kids at the Boys and Girls Club.

ACE would also like to thank Krista Osterthaler at the National Capitol Poison Center for all of the wonderful resources and assistance she provided.

Remember, if you suspect someone has been poisoned, call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222!

Driver Didn't Know Huffing Could Make Him Pass Out

Via the Tampa Bay Times in Florida:

A 40-year-old Florida man was jailed for felony child neglect after he crashed his car into a curb.

Police found a young child in a safety seat in the back of the car and the man passed out in the driver’s seat. There was a can of computer duster on the passenger seat. The man admitted to huffing while driving, but he did not know he could lose consciousness since he had never huffed before.

The man remains in jail, and the child was not injured.

Missouri Man Found Huffing in Parking Lot

Via the Mehlville-Oakville Patch in Missouri:

Police found a man sitting in a parked car huffing computer duster. The man would not unlock his doors or cooperate with police. Officers broke his window and took the man into custody. He was charged with illegal use of inhalants and later taken to the hospital.

Inhalant Call Leads to Marijuana Bust

Via the Dover Post in Delaware:

Police were sent to a Delaware residence after a 51-year-old man called for medical assistance. A 21-year-old resident of the house had started to seize after inhaling a can of electronic duster.

When police arrived, the young man had been removed by a relative, and officers instead found 12 marijuana plants. The 51-year-old man was arrested for possessing and cultivating marijuana.