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.”