22 Year Old's Death Attributable to Inhalant Abuse

Via the News Observer in North Carolina:

An autopsy released last week revealed that the 22 year old male who was found face-down and unresponsive in his bed earlier this year died from huffing computer dusting spray.

Police found the man at his off campus house on February 22, a can of the computer duster with him in his bed and several empty cans in the room.  The report also notes he had small amounts of the anti-anxiety drug alprazolam and painkiller oxycodone in his system “which would have increased the spray’s toxic effects.” He also had “signs of cardiovascular disease, which would make him more susceptible to the spray.”

According to the autopsy:  “Given the autopsy and investigative findings, it is my opinion that the cause of death in this case is 1,1 difluoroethane toxicity. This substance, found in aerosol computer duster/cleaner spray, can have cardiotoxic effects, and likely caused an acute cardiac arrhythmia in the decedent.”

Serial Huffer Arrested in Florida

Via the Sun Sentinel in Florida:

A 40 year old woman was arrested after stealing cans of computer duster to “keep the voices away.”

The report notes she walked into a local Wal-Mart, took two cans of duster from the shelf, put them in a bag and left the store without paying.  Two hours later she walked back into the same store, went to the same section and placed two more bags of computer duster in her bag. Guards stopped the woman as she attempted to exit the store.  She was arrested and police records showed she had “at least 13 previous arrests dating back to 2008 that were related to inhaling or ingesting harmful chemicals.”

Minnesota Man Arrested After Huffing and Passing Out at Local Store

Via the Woodbury Patch in Minnesota:

Police were called to a local Target for a report of a man huffing outside the store’s entrance and staggering inside and outside the store. When they arrived they found him passed out with several cans surrounding him.  He was treated and transported to the county jail.

Arkansas Man Arrested for Huffing in Store Restroom

Via the Craighead County KAIT 8 in Arkansas:

A 21 year old Jonesboro man was arrested last week after an inhalant abuse related incident.

Employees of a local store noticed the man take a two pack of dusters and enter the store’s restroom. An employee followed the man into the restroom and reported hearing him “huff” the computer duster. Police were called and the police report notes the man was “unsteady on his feet, his speech was slurred and he acted like he was in a daze or unaware of his surroundings” at the time of his arrest.”

He was taken to the county detention center, charged with theft of property under $1,000; breathing, inhaling or drinking intoxicating compounds; and outstanding warrants from the city of Trumann."

Illinois Mother Charged for Huffing

Via mysuburbanlife.com

An Illinois woman was charged with two misdemeanors.  The woman allegedly fell into a "catatonic state" on the floor of a locked bathroom after inhaling computer duster.  The woman's, "4-year-old child was in the shower, according to the state's attorney's office." 

Pennsylvania Man's Crash is Inhalant Related

Via Abington Patch

An Elkins Park man, 37,  that was arrested for a crash last month, "had difluoroethane in his system, which is commonly found in electronics duster, police said." 

The man was arrested on March 2nd, after crashing into a utility pole and fleeing in the car.  When police stopped the car, the man had slurred speech, glazy eyes, and was responding slowly to questions.  He did however pass a field sobriety test.   The man's blood tested positive for difluoroethane and he was charged with, "DUI, careless driving and accidents involving damage to property."

According to court documents, the man was arrested two days earlier in a nearby town for, "smelling or inhaling toxic releasing substances, and possession of a solvent for releasing toxic vapors and fumes."

New National Inhalant Data from Partnership at Drugfree.org

The 24th annual PartnershipAttitude Tracking Study (PATS) data was released this morning and showed that “Inhalant abuse also remained stable, with 7 percent of teens indicating they’ve abused inhalants over the past year.”  

South Carolina Man Arrested Sixth Time for Huffing

Via the Charleston Post Courier in South Carolina:

A 32 year old Charleston man was arrested last week on charges of huffing spray paint.  Around 1:45 am on a Sunday police heard loud noises and upon investigation in a marshy area by the highway found the man “clutching a 4-inch knife, spinning in circles and talking to himself.”  They then smelled the spray paint and noticed the gold spray paint on the man’s body and clothes along with three paint cans nearby, each with a hole in the side.

The man denies the charges and the police report lists his reason.  “He stated that he sprays the gold paint and places the rag on his mouth. When the devil worshippers come after him and try to orally sexually assault him, the paint gets on their genitals, and he can use that information to prosecute them.” Since 2006 the man has been arrested and convicted on five glue-sniffing charges. For the most recent incident he faces a charge “sniffing aromatic hydrocarbons”

Florida Man Arrested for Stealing Knives & Huffing

Via Florida NewsZap.com

Earlier this month a 22 year old man was arrested after he was found stealing knives and huffing computer duster while in a Wal-Mart store. He has been charged with” a felony charge of use of an antishoplifting device and a misdemeanor charges of retail theft and inhaling/ingesting a harmful chemical.”

Nebraska Teen Cited for Huffing at School

Via the Freemont Tribune in Nebraska


Earlier this week a 16 year old male was cited after he was allegedly hugging at a high school. Police responded to a tip and cited the boy for “inhaling an intoxicating substance.”