13-year-old Girl Treated for Sniffing Glue

via http://www.fijitimes.com

A 13-year-old girl in Fiji was treated for substance abuse which involved glue. She was taken in when she was found overdosed. Sources say there has been a rise in the amount of children coming into metal institutions in what appears to be the beginning stages of substance abuse, especially glue.

Gas Sniffing Plague Continues in St. John's, Canada

via Thetelegram.com

In St. John's, Canada a 13-year-old boy and an 11-year-old boy were both treated for severe leg burns suffered as a result of inhaling gasoline. Inhalant abuse is a growing epidemic in this community, read more in the article above.

Inhalant-Related Car Crash Could Have Been Fatal

Via WJBK Fox in Michigan

A man in his late twenties crashed into a home where a 4-year-old girl slept. After blacking out while inhaling computer duster, the driver drove through a homeowner’s yard, crashed through fencing, and hit a bedroom where the young girl napped. Her 3-year-old brother had been in the path of the car just minutes prior. Neither child was hurt.

Woman Endangers Life of Infant Son

Via WJAC-TV in Pennsylvania

A Pennsylvania woman is being charged with reckless driving, driving under the influence, and endangering the life of her infant son for a violent car crash in July. The woman was huffing computer duster before she lost control of her car, crossed five lanes of traffic and crashed into an embankment. When asked if she had been huffing before the crash, she said, “I don’t think so.” The can was seen between her legs by first responders after the crash.

Firefighters used ropes to rescue the woman and her son from the severely damaged car. The infant suffered from a skull fracture and was flown to the hospital.

Substantial Increase in Inhalant Use Among Children in India

Via Press Information Bureau in India

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) plans to bring awareness to the problem of inhalant abuse by children. The Commission visited five NGOs “to review the prevention, reduction and rehabilitation strategies adopted by the organizations for those suffering from different kinds of addiction.”

According to a study from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, the use of “volatile solvents” among children has increased substantially – from 31.0 % in 2008 to 40.5% in 2009.

Huffing Computer Duster, Man Crashes Car With Children In Backseat

Via HometownLife

A 32-year-old man in Michigan crashed his car into two trees when he went unconscious while huffing and driving his two young daughters. The man’s car crossed into oncoming traffic, hit a tree, continued straight, then hit another tree. The car stopped just before entering the creek. The man told police he remembers huffing a can of computer duster before the crash. While speaking to police, the man seemed dazed and even began to huff from the can. A second can was found in the creek.

The man was charged with child abuse and reckless driving. His daughters, ages 2 and 5, were not injured. He was ordered no contact with his children.

Q&A With Board Certified Family Medicine Physician: Dr. Caudle

Dr. Jennifer Caudle is a physician Board certified in Family Medicine who promotes , wellness and motivational programs. She has appeared on ABC News, written healthy advice articles and led workshops nationally. Her message of wellness has reached over 50,000 people and she can be found at http://www.jennifercaudle.com/.


Q: How should parents promote dialogue with their children about inhalant abuse?

A: One of the best things to do is to ask about their behavior, friends behavior and things they’ve seen

Q: What would you like children to know about the danger and severity of inhalant abuse?

A: A lot of people don’t know how common it is. You can have effects after the first try such as nausea, headaches; and more serious issues such as kidney, heart, lung problems and even sudden death.

Q: What are some treatments inhalant abusers must undergo to end their addiction?

A: There are treatment centers for abusers to get help. The most important thing is to get them help.

Q: Why do you feel inhalants are so popular?
A: Inhalants are popular because they are so easy to find. Many substances can be found around the house and at hardware stores.

Q: What is something that is usually overlooked when it comes to inhalant abuse?

A: A lot of adults abuse inhalants as well. Well over 54% of people who go to treatment are adults. Inhalant abuse can happen at all ages.

Q: What is your main message to the public?

A: People tend to overlook inhalant abuse as substance abuse when in reality it is. The signs are not always clear you may or may not notice them. Knowledge is power. We need to educate children, adults and health care providers more on this issue. No one should use inhalants. Parents, talk to your kids about the dangers. Also, physicians are always a great resource for any questions or advice.

Palm Harbor Woman Failed to Supervise Paint Sniffing Child

Palm Harbor- Florida

According to the St. Petersburg Times a 35 year old Palm Harbor woman, Deborah Lee Pavlat, had fallen asleep after ingesting several a narcotic painkillers and failed to arrange childcare for the 7 year-old boy in her care.

While she was asleep, the young boy wandered outside and was caught by neighbors huffing spray paint. The boy reported that this was the first time he had tried it, and he liked the smell.

Pavlat was charged with child neglect and is currently being held in the Pinellas County Jail.

Horses to Help with Inhalant Addiction

From Sarnia Observer in Sarnia, ON, Canada

Very interesting piece about a 45 year-old mother of two who changed careers in order to help troubled children. She and a friend became certified equine assisted facilitators and started Lambton Equine Assisted Learning, where they run childrens’ therapy camps.

Through their program they work with children “brought to them by parents or through referrals from various social service agencies.” Interestingly, the article notes “In West Lorne, a large number of the kids attend an inhalant addiction centre outside London and have arrived from remote communities in the north.”

More information on the program can be found here

Glue Addiction in South Africa

More stories about South African inhalant abuse have been finding their way into the media, with the latest one being in iol.co.za, an online news source for South Africa.

The author paints a vivid picture of a child with an addiction to glue, and a few coins are "all it costs to buy a bottle of viscous orange glue from an "auntie" who makes her living peddling deformity and death as though she were a legitimate businesswoman."

There are also quotes from children who use glue as an escape:

"My mother threw me away when I was a baby. I was found by social welfare, but there was no one who loved me. They put me with a foster mother, but she only took children for the grant. I ran to the streets when I was nine years old.

The glue helps me when I am feeling sad that my mother did not want her own child. When I have some money I go to the aunties with the glue. They buy big drums and then put it in the bottles. They come on the taxis with the glue. The police do not worry because you can buy glue if you like. It is not against the law." - Siphiso, 15.

In South Africa, glue is the most abused inhalant, with three main varieties:

"Neoprene, SS Neoprene and an unnamed, dark orange glue that is the most toxic. All three have a high level of a neurotoxic chemical called toluene. When inhaled, usually from a small glass bottle, often concealed in an empty milk or cold drink carton, the fumes are highly addictive, and the effects nearly instantaneous."

There are no regulations on the sale or abuse of glue. Joseph Nandwa, a Undungu field officer, says that "anyone who sells an inhalant to a minor, knowing that it will be abused, is subject to three years in prison. But there has not been a single recorded arrest."

One particularly sad section reads as follows:

"David followed the routine practised by thousands of homeless children in Nairobi each day. He took out a handkerchief, dipped it into a tin of paint thinner, put it to his nose and inhaled deeply.

Asked what he was doing, David replied: "Dinner". David was sniffing paint-thinner to suppress his hunger and ward off the cold."

Inhalant Use Common in South Africa

Health24.com posted a story the other day that describes the harrowing problems of inhalants in South Africa. The article jumps right into the heart of the subject, beginning by saying that,

"it’s a common sight to see street children sniffing glue from a plastic bag. Just a whiff as you pass by is enough to make you dizzy. Street children are not the only ones sniffing inhalants - it is becoming a dangerous practice among teens of all ages and across social classes."

Then, information about inhalants in the United States was presented:

• 1.1 million teens admitted to using inhalants last year
• 600,000 teens start using inhalants each year
• Teens believe that using inhalants are not as dangerous as taking illegal drugs

Although the reported statistics on inhalant abuse in South Africa are low, the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence believe this to be because many of the users are 'off the grid', being homeless or not willing to go to a treatment center for help.

Carry Bekker of the Stepping Stones Addiction Centre calls inhalant abuse "very prevalent amongst street children" and fairly prevalent among the lower socio-economic groups. He also explains that inhalants are mainly used by adolescents and younger.

The article continues to describe the effects of abusing inhalants:

"When the vapours are inhaled, the body becomes starved of oxygen which forces the heart to beat faster to increase blood flow to the brain. The high begins a few seconds after inhalation and can include dizziness, slurred speech, lack of co-ordination, hallucinations and delusions. The high only lasts for a few minutes and users inhale repeatedly to stay high."

In addition, the health hazards are outlined:

• Chronic use can lead to brain damage or nerve damage, damage to the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys.
• Extended use can also affect thinking, vision, hearing and movement.
• Sniffing inhalants can also lead to heart failure and death. Heart failure is caused by chemicals interfering with the heart’s regulating system, which could cause the heart to stop beating.
• High concentrations of inhalants also cause death from asphyxiation, suffocation, convulsions, seizure, coma, choking or fatal injury from accidents.

The effects of specific inhalants:

• Toulene – found in spray paint, glue, nail polish - can cause hearing loss, spinal cord or brain damage and liver and kidney failure.
• Trichloroethylene – found in correction and cleaning fluids - can cause hearing loss and liver and kidney failure.
• Hexane – found in glue and petrol - can cause limb spasm and liver and kidney failure.
• Nitrous oxide – found in whipped cream dispensers and gas cylinders - can cause limb spasm and blackouts.
• Benzene – found in petrol - can cause bone marrow damage.

The article also describes Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrom (SSDS):

"It is the most common cause of death among regular inhalant abusers. A victim may be trying it for the first time, or could be a frequent user. According to studies 22% of inhalant abusers who die of SSDS are first-time users.

SSDS happens when a user gets surprised or shocked while sniffing or huffing. This often happens when the user is caught sniffing. An exciting or scary hallucination can also trigger SSDS. When the user is surprised or shocked, a sudden flow of epinephrine (adrenaline) is released. Epinephrine helps to regulate the functions of the body such as the heart rate.

When a person is highly stimulated by fear or a confrontation, further amounts of epinephrine are released into the bloodstream to prepare the body for action. Blood pressure, heart rate and cardiac activity increases. Because of the presence of inhalants in the body, the heart muscle is more sensitive to epinephrine, and when it reaches the heart, it suffers an irregular heart beat (arrhythmia). Within seconds the user can be killed."

How can you help?

• Speak about the dangers of inhalant abuse to your child
• Be aware of products that can be abused
• Keep an eye on all potentially dangerous products in your home
• If you suspect someone is abusing inhalants, encourage the person to seek professional help

Safe Kids Against Inhalants

Safe Kids of Central Shenandoah Valley has done a great job in raising awareness of inhalant abuse prevention in their community! After receiving a grant from the Virginia Department of Health in 2007, they began their efforts to spread inhalant abuse prevention messages to youths.

They have collaborated with the Harrisonburg City Schools and Risk Watch to issue a poster and essay contest for 7th graders. Their poster and essay contest was such a success last year, they are doing the same project again this year. Each participant will receive an "Inhalants Stink" t-shirt and tickets to the movie theater. The program is currently wrapping up for 2008, and they are happy to announce there have been more participants this year than last!

Safe Kids and the Strong Families Great Youth Coalitions have been working hard on getting inhalant prevention messages out to the Harrisonburg and Rockingham County community. Their Inhalant Abuse prevention display board has been rotated around Harrisonburg businesses and agencies during the past year. The board contains essential information for parents, educators and kids. That board has rotated around 10 businesses in Harrisonburg.

In addition to that, Safe Kids has incorporated table tents and tray liners which appear in middle schools and restaurants.

Safe Kids has also had a presence at several symposiums and fairs during the year. They exhibit their information in a variety of ways, including: table tents, bookmarks, tray liners, Virginia Department of Health’s tip sheet, and ACE’s What Every Parent Needs to Know About Inhalant Abuse brochures to name a few.

Notably, the group featured Inhalant Abuse prevention at the Harrisonburg Teen Pregnancy Prevention’s 2007 Teen Health fair. Approximately 400 teens were in attendance at the fair!

For more information on this group, or to find out how you can get involved, please contact Cindy Reeves at 540-433-4421 or email creeves@rhcc.com.

Williams Speaks to Schools in Kentucky

Sgt. Jeff Williams spoke to crowds comprised of junior high students, high school students, parents, counselors, and police officers for two days last week in Glasgow, Kentucky. The state has made efforts to counter the high inhalant abuse rate in some areas by inviting speakers to talk to schools and community leaders.

Williams says that what he wanted to get across was to, "in plain language, relay the most important information" - the most important information being what inhalants are, signs of inhlanat abuse, as well as the potential consequences. He says that he wants to counter all of the bad information that kids hear from their peers and get the real information out there.

Every child is going to be faced with a choice of whether or not to use inhalants. It's no longer a question of 'if', he says. Parents avoid discussing inhalant abuse with their kids because they "don't want to teach them", so they don't talk to them. Williams is in favor of giving children the real facts, the dangers, and the consequences so that they are able to make an informed decision.

Sgt. Jeff Williams is a police officer from Indiana who has become active in the inhalant community after his son Kyle died in 2004. Last December he was unanimously elected to the ACE Board of Trustees. 

Inhalant Abuse Popular on Street

The Narconon Program of Atlanta, Georgia was featured in TransWorldNews today for their work with reducing inhalant use amongst homeless youth in cities worldwide. They describe the conditions of life on the street and the appeal of inhalants, explaining that,

"One way to stave off hunger pains, and help them forget where they are, is to take drugs. While many children, who can be as young as 5 years old, may drink alcohol, smoke weed, or do other hard drugs, the majority prefer to “fly,” huffing glue.

Yes, glue. Glue made to repair shoes is the drug of choice for these homeless children. For a few pennies, which they can always beg, or steal (borrowing is not in their vocabulary), the pain brought on by hunger, heat, cold, or the simple fact that they were abandoned, can be alleviated by huffing.

Give them an empty soda bottle, or a plastic bag, a few pennies worth of shoe glue, called “Resistol” (trademark) in Latin America, and they can forget. Be happy. Sleep."

They have several initiatives in place in order to combat this trend, such as an orphanage in Honduras, which

"has been getting kids off the streets and into a safe environment through dedication of their staff and with the help of Narconon Drug Rehab and other Atlanta charity groups.

Narconon of Georgia helped a Honduran medical doctor establish the Narconon New Life Detoxification Program in this orphanage to aid in the growing epidemic of addicted street orphans in their country.

The sauna program had astounding results with the children and has been praised by the Dr. Vega as being beneficial to the children in their drug rehab efforts."

One of the counselors at the orphanage stated that,

"The children arrive here and behave like little animals. They have no moral code, won't listen to anyone, run wild. However, the Narconon Sauna Program removes the toxins from their bodies and they become happier, more social, like little children again. They become social people."

Mary Rieser, Narcanon's Executive Director, says that

“Narconon of Georgia staff have a special place in their heart for children. It is one thing to admit a full grown adult into drug rehab, but to see a young child passed out in the streets because they are drunk or high is very sad. These children have no hope unless we do something about it.”

There is also a video available with the article that further explains these issues.

Children and Drugs

Jose Rosado made an interesting point in his article "Often Teen Drug Use Starts in Medical Cabinet". He described the anti-drug commercial that played during this year's Super Bowl:

"The ad reinforced the hypothetical question I often pose when discussing drug abuse in our country: If we could keep all of the illegal drugs produced in foreign countries from crossing our borders and landing on our streets, will our young people stop getting high? The answer is no!They would turn to prescription drugs, over the counter cold and cough medications as well as household products that can be used as inhalants. Unfortunately, this is precisely what is happening across our country."

Parents should keep in mind the fact that children are inclined to try inhalants first before other drugs. There are several reasons for this:

• Younger children don't have the money for other drugs
• They may not know anyone who sells drugs
• Inhalants are always accessible
• They've seen other classmates huff at school
• There's no 'contraband' - who thinks twice about markers in a child's room, or dust remover by their computer?
• Inhalants don't require any special equipment
• The 'high' hits almost immediately
• Huffing may be seen as less dangerous than other ways to get high
• Inhalants are not illegal to possess, so there's no risk in carrying them around

Even if you believe that your child is too young to even consider inhalant use, here are some tips for talking to your children from 6 years old and up.

Man Abused Inhalants Near Child

Joshua Webb was charged with neglect of a dependent as well as two counts of possession of a controlled substance after a relative called police claiming that Webb was getting high around his son, either one or two years old. According to the story,

Webb was staggering when he answered the door, barely able to hold his head up to speak to officers. Officers noticed a paint thinner-type smell, both on Webb and in the home. Webb told officers the odor was from paint thinner and admitted huffing it.

The charges are all felonies, with a three to six month jail sentence for each. The child was found asleep and unharmed.

Driving Under the Influence

Three stories in the past week:

In Benton County, Iowa, the District Court is being sued for not suspending the license of 18-year-old Jordan Miller who drove her car down the wrong lane and collided with another vehicle, leaving the driver with life-threatening injuries. Jordan was under the influence of inhalants at the time of the crash. The other driver, Thersia Herron, has been left with $250,000 in medical bills and more are expected. The lawsuit says that the state should have known that Jordan was a threat to other drivers and revoked her license after past infractions.

Hunter Baker, from Enola, Pennsylvania was arrested on Monday after he huffed aerosol fumes and passed out while driving, swerving into another line and hitting a vehicle head-on. One of the passengers in his car broke an eye socket and required thirty stitches.

A mother who was arrested in West Virginia inhaled "an unidentified intoxicating substance", and after passing out accidentally hit the gas while her 5-month-old daughter and another passenger were in the car. The vehicle crossed the street and went into a nearby back yard, after which it took down two fences and went over a six-foot embankment. Then, the car went up a three-foot embankment and struck a building. The driver was not hurt but the baby received a head injury and the passenger was experiencing head and back pain.


Abusing inhalants and driving is not only harmful to the inhaler, but can be dangerous for the passengers, other drivers, and innocent bystanders. Parents usually tell their children not to drink and drive, but huffing and driving is a lethal combination as well.