Alarming New Inhalant Data in Pennsylvania

Via The Sentinel in Pennsylvania:

The results of the Pennsylvania Youth Survey have been released- and reveal that “inhalant use is a problem among middle school students in Cumberland and Perry Counties.”

Percentage of 8^th grader that have used inhalants at least once:

·         Perry County: 14%

·         Cumberland County: 18%

Percentage of 8^th graders that reported using inhalants in the past 30 days:

·         Perry County: 8%

·         Cumberland County: 14%

Comparatively, 6% of 8^th graders in Pennsylvania and 3% of 8^th graders in the US reported using inhalants in the past 30 days.

National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week

March 18-24^th, 2012, is National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week (NIPAW). Every year, this week represents an opportunity to educate people about the dangers of inhalant abuse while supporting those who have been affected by inhalant abuse. Countless people are unaware of the dangers and fatalities associated with abusing household items for the purposes of “getting high.”

Fast Facts about Inhalant Abuse*

• The average age of first time users was 16.3 years


• 68.4 percent of first time users were under age 18


• 793,000 people aged 12+ used inhalants for the first time in 2010.

What can you do?

During NIPAW, start a conversation at work or talk to a friend about inhalant abuse. Many communities around the nation hold special programs or write articles to raise awareness about inhalant abuse prevention. If you are planning an event, please contact me so we can add it to this blog and/or our community message board.

You can make a difference in your community and potentially save a life by educating yourself about this pressing issue! Please visit http://www.inhalant.org/ to check out our electronic Inhalant Abuse Prevention Kit and for more information.

*All statistics from 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: http://www.samhsa.gov/data/NSDUH/2k10NSDUH/2k10Results.pdf

Report: 2010 Drug Use Among Young People In England

Via NHS Information Centre's 2011 report, Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England in 2010

New data from the NHS Information Centre finds that among 11-15 year-olds, 28% of adolescents reported ever being offered any drugs. They were most likely to have been offered cannabis (18%) or volatile substances (10%). However, there has been a decrease in the number of adolescents who reported inhaling volatile substances, from 5.5% in 2009 to 3.8% in 2010.

However, for 73% of 11 and 12 year olds who had taken drugs in the last year, it was restricted to inhaling volatile substances. Volatile substance abuse continues to be the most common form of drug misuse among 11-12 year olds, and second only to cannabis across the whole 11-15 age group.

Risky Behavior On The Decline Among Teens In Tennessee

Via Times Free Press in Tennessee

The recent Youth Risk Behavior Study found that “cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, inhalants, and sex all experienced a decade of decline among Hamilton County high school students.” According to the study, 45 percent of local teens admitted to currently using one or more illicit substances, while 50 percent said they currently live a risk-free life -- a 6 percent increase since 2002.

Ten Percent of teens in Bermuda Use Inhalants

Via the Royal Gazette Online in Bermuda:

The article mentions a key inhalant statistic: “Just over 10% of the island’s adolescents had tried inhalants”

One California School Alarmed by Inhalant Data from their 5th Graders

Via LaCanadaOnline.com in California:

The results of the California Healthy Kids Survey were recently released by the La Cañada Unified School District. The results reveal frightening new data on inhalant use by county youth.

The survey showed that 11% of Palm Crest Elementary's fifth graders had used inhalants to get high. School board members were surprised and concerned. One remarked "The use of inhalants is surprising. It's one of the big things we need to look out for."

The article also points out “11% is nearly triple the 4% average of fifth graders state-wide who've used inhalants.”

Additionally, it is “also significantly higher than the 3% and 1% averages at Paradise Canyon and La Cañada Elementary Schools, respectively.”

National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week Press Conference

To launch National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week, the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition, with support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), held a press conference to focus on inhalant use and efforts by the medical profession to educate physicians. The widely-attended event brought together media, federal agencies, and those personally affected to bring attention this important issue.

Pamela Hyde, SAMHSA Administrator, spoke poignantly about the recent upticks in drug use as a recent study showed a regression in adolescent attitudes about drug use. This trend, which is a harbinger of future drug use, is magnified when discussing inhalant abuse because many teens don’t think it is a ‘real’ drug. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, attitudes about drug abuse were have tumbled to 58% from 75% in earlier surveys.

Ms. Hyde noted that inhalant accessibility and ignorance about side effects contribute to the problem. Among 12-year olds nationwide inhalants are the drug of choice. Currently, alcohol is the only substance with higher user rates than inhalants.

Dr. Jennifer Caudle, of the American Osteopathic Association, intimated inhalant abuse is affecting the medical community as medical professionals have access to commonly abused gases, such as nitrous oxide. Additionally, there is little formal training about recognizing inhalant abuse allowing cases to go undiagnosed. In response, Dr. Caudle and the AOA are helping to create a support system and dialogue among medical practitioners to illuminate that areas need improvement.

The last two speakers shared personal accounts of how inhalant abuse affected their lives. Ashley, 17, and Kevin, a parent who lost his daughter to inhalants, offered poignant and intertwined reflections. The two are now learning how to live new lives of recovery and loss respectively.

We would especially like to thank Harvey Weiss, Executive Director of NIPC for organizing this annual event as it is emblematic of his steadfast efforts to combat inhalant abuse.