The Latest National Survey Reveals Inhalant Abuse Statistics

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAHMSA) recently released a national survey on substance abuse from 2008 to 2009. The survey revealed that substance abuse has generally increased, and inhalants were particularly popular for first-time substance abusers.

Youth Statistics

- Inhalant abuse rate has not decreased among youths since 2002.

- Inhalants are popular first-time drugs. About 3.1 million people aged over 12 used an illicit drug for the first time in 2009. Among them, a startling 9.8 percent chose inhalants as their first illicit drug.

- Youths also make up the majority of inhalant abusers. In 2009, 0.8 million people aged 12 or older used inhalants, and 67.9 percent of them were under age 18 when they first used inhalants.

- 10.0 percent of all youths aged 12 to 17 were illicit drug users in 2009, and 1.0 percent of them used inhalants.

- Among 12 or 13 year olds, 1.4 percent used inhalants, and 0.8 percent of 14, 15, 16, or 17 year olds used inhalants.

- The average age of first-time inhalant abuser remains under the age of 17 since 2008. In 2008, the average age was 15.9, and in 2009, it was 16.9 years.

Adult Statistics

- Among adults aged 26 or older, 6.3% percent were current illicit drug users in 2009, and inhalants were used by 0.1 percent of them.

Overall Dependency

- About 164,000 people aged 12 or older developed dependence on inhalants in 2009.

Statistical information as well as graphical representation for this report are accredited to SAMHSA's full report, which is available here. Please feel free to check it out for more detailed information on inhalant abuse.

Arizona Study Looks At Huffing Among Local Teens

This week another study examines teenage inhalant abuse, this time in the barrio, a Spanish word meaning neighborhood. Researchers observe huffing habits of over three dozen youth against a control group in Phoenix, Arizona. The study yielded the following findings:

• Inhalant users had a history of multiple stressors, evidenced academic difficulties and the criminal justice system
• They began using drugs between the ages of 10 and 15
• They confined their drug use primarily to marijuana, alcohol, and inhalants
• The teens often came from families with drug problems
• Inhalant abusers experienced more poverty and family disruption
• They believed their friends to be favorable to their use of inhalants
• They were less involved in conventional youth activities

You can view the complete abstract and purchase the study here.

Inhalant Abuse Study Yields New Data

A study released Monday shows several trends in inhalant abuse over a 15-year period. Using National Poison Data System data from 60 U.S. poison centers, the journal Pediatrics published the"Inhalant Abuse: Monitoring Trends by Using Poison Control Data, 1993-2008" examines 35, 453 inhalant abuse cases reported from 1993 to 2008. Of these cases, people reported over 3,400 different products that were then divided into 200 individual categories.

The data indicates the following:

Age/Gender

• Among 12-17-year olds users, 14-years old was the year of peak use
• Male users accounted for 73.5% of cases reported
• Propellants were abused more among 12-17 age group
• 6-11 year olds more commonly abused gasoline
• Propellant use doubled between 2002 and 2007 among the 12-17 age range, up from 7.6 %to 14.6%
• Teenage use dropped one third
• Lifetime use among teens was between 10%-15%

Products misused most often

• Alcohol (23%), marijuana (12.8%) were most commonly mixed with inhalants
• 1993: paint was most reported; 2008: propellants (i.e. duster)
• Propellants, gasoline, and paint accounted for 39% of cases reported

Trends

• Propellant reporting increased threefold between 2003 and 2008. Duster accounted for 58% of these cases.
• 67.8% of reports were managed in health care facilities
• Butane (58.1%), propane (25.9%), air fresheners (21.8%) abuse had the highest fatality rates
• 2003 reported the lowest number of cases, down 54% from 1993
• UT, NM, WY, SD and WV reported the most cases
• Reporting remained steady after 2003

You can view the abstract here.