Tweens Favor Inhalants to Get High

A newly released federal government report points to an
alarming trend -- that preteens and young teens who use drugs chose inhalants as a
"gateway" drug to other illicit drugs.

The findings released at the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition's latest
news conference reveal that among young drug users, 12- and 13-year-olds sniff
common household chemicals to get high, often before moving on to marijuana or abusing pain pills. 

"Inhalants are everywhere in the house and garage, and parents often do
not realize that the glue and paint are not being used for crafts or science
projects," H. Westley Clark, MD says in a news release. Clark is the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Statistics director of the Center for
Substance Abuse Treatment.

According to Clark's prepared statements, "while the data show that
often children move away from using inhalants as they grow older, they often
move on to other illicit drugs. Inhalants are a health hazard that can damage
the brain, heart, liver, or kidneys." Clark warns parents that inhalants
can "cause severe damage and even death."

The report looked at national survey results from the National Survey on
Drug Use and Health of adolescents aged 12 to 17 done from 2002 to 2006. The
combined data showed that an annual average of 593,000 adolescents had used
inhalants for the first time in the year before the survey. Twenty-one percent
surveyed say they used an illicit drug in the past year.

Among the youngest surveyed, aged 12 or 13, inhalants were the most reported
class of illicit drug used in the past year. Marijuana was the most-used class
of illicit drug among the older teens, with use of pain relievers in second.
Rate of inhalant use in the past year went up from age 12 to 14 (3.4% to 5.3%),
but then decreased by age 17 (3.9%).

Shoe polish, glue, and toluene were the most-used inhalants in adolescents
aged 12 to 15.

There is concern that young people are not taking the risks of inhalants
seriously, according to study authors. "While teens are increasingly
aware of the dangers of illicit street drugs, they continue to underestimate
the risks of abusing products that can be found in the home, like inhalants and
prescription and over-the-counter medications," Stephen J. Pasierb,
president of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, said during a news
conference.

Pasieb offered these tips for parents:

• Be aware of which products can be abused.


• Keep track of potentially dangerous products in the home.


• Talk to your children about the risks of inhalant abuse.

Related Study Looks at Kids in Treatment for Drug Abuse

Here are the findings for a related federal government study looking at
youngsters who get treated for substance abuse.

• 45% of those who abused inhalants also have psychiatric disorders, compared
  with 29% who abused other drugs.


• 12- to 17-year-olds made up 8% of substance abuse treatment admissions in
  2006, but they made up nearly half of all admissions who say they used
  inhalants. 


• 41% of teenage girls admitted to drug treatment centers involved inhalants;
  30% of those admitted did not report inhalants.

By Kelley Colihan
Reviewed by Louise Chang
©2005-2006 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved