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20 March 2000
Community Rallies to End Huffing, Sniffing, and Bagging During National Inhalants, and Poisons Awareness Week

SAN DIEGO, CA – Just days after Cynthia Bramley McCormick held her son's hand as he promised never to abuse inhalants again, the 19-year-old was found unconscious with a plastic bag over his head. Seth Bramley died in September from "bagging" a can of shaving gel. "Seth was no longer in control, the inhalants had taken over his life," says the Wrightwood, California parent.

The week of March 19-25th, is National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week to educate the public that inhalants are toxic, extremely addictive and all too often–fatal. A group of teenagers, community advocates, educators, law enforcement and health professionals is kicking off the week with a news event held at Lakeside Union School District, 12335 Woodside, Lakeside at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, March 20th. "This latest and most popular drug of choice is NOT a drug at all–it's poison," says Maureen Phillips, Education Coordinator for the California Poison Control System. "These poisons were never intended for human consumption," says Phillips.

A recent study by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission shows that 95% of parents believe their child has never abused inhalants. Yet, at least one in five 8th graders has intentionally inhaled toxic products at the risk of brain damage and even death, reports the National Institute on Drug Abuse Monitoring the Future Survey. California mirrors the national rate, according to the California Departments of Justice and Education California Student Substance Use Survey.

The average age of use is 12 and 13, younger teens more often than older abuse poisonous inhalants. Cases as young as five years old have been reported. Dr. Carol Leighty, Superintendent of Lakeside Union School District, sees the problem among middle school students. "Kids experiment and we talk to parents about the signs of use. Some parents never recognize them until we point them out," says Leighty.

Inhalant abuse knows no demographic or socio-economic boundaries–prevalent in rural areas because of easy accessibility. There's no corner drug deals, just kitchen cabinets, supply closets and garages. "Inhalants are available and cheap," says Bill McClurg, President of Communities Against Substance Abuse/Partnership for a Drug-Free San Diego. More than 1000 toxic household products can be abused to get high. It's called huffing, sniffing or bagging. "It's illegal to huff or sell products to huff," says McClurg, who is also Captain for the El Cajon Police Department. Under California law, the sale, distribution, and possession of inhalants for the purpose of obtaining euphoria is illegal, punishable by jail or fine.

Communities Against Substance Abuse, and the California Poison Control System support these measures:

Stiffer laws to reduce the toxicity of aerosols and other inhalants. A recent California law requires typewriter correction fluid to be water-soluble and not solvent-based.

Voluntary changes by companies. WD-40, headquarters in San Diego, changed the propellant in its aerosol from propane to CO2, which cannot be huffed.

Asking retailers to refuse to sell quantities of abusable substances to youth without parental consent.

Retailer compliance of existing laws such as making spray paints inaccessible to youth.

Community support for increased enforcement of laws prohibiting the sale of nitrous oxide whippet kits. Huffing often occurs before, during or after class. Here are some steps schools and parents can take:

	Substitute water-based products for solvent-based items when possible.
	Closely monitor solvents and gases.
	Address inhalant abuse in school substance abuse policies.

During National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week, every middle school in San Diego County is expected to distribute information packets about huffing, sniffing and bagging to teachers and counselors. Lakeside Union School District is making sure middle school students receive brochures. In addition, the word is getting out to elementary students as well as parent, business and community groups. Dave Vialpondo, Special Agent Supervisor for the California Department of Justice, Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement says illegal nitrous oxides are just a portion of the problem. "It's not such a law enforcement problem as a parental awareness one," says Vialpondo.

Inhalant abuse has become a silent epidemic. Parents are out of the loop and have no clue. Often, parents are unwitting suppliers, failing to be suspicious when air freshener, gasoline or cleaning products disappear or show up in a child's bedroom. "I remember finding washcloths with the outline of Seth's face that smelled like air freshener," says Bramley McCormick. "I never knew what he was doing. I want other parents to know the warning signs better than I did. By the time I figured it out it was too late." Telltale signs of inhalant abuse include:

	Paint on hands, mouth or nose.
	Chemical breath odor.
	Red or runny eyes or nose.
	Spots or sores around the mouth.
	Drunk or dazed appearance.
	Anxiety, excitability, irritability.
	Nausea, loss of appetite.
	Chemically soaked rags, socks or bags.

Each year, hundreds of children are hospitalized from inhalant abuse. According to the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office, inhalant abuse caused five deaths in the past five years, two in 1999 alone. "Even one use can kill," says Jo Ann Tapp, Prevention Projects Coordinator for Communities Against Substance Abuse. "It's like playing Russian Roulette. The effects, which last anywhere from five minutes to an hour, can result in total unconsciousness and even death the first, tenth or one hundredth time," says Tapp.

Sometimes death is intentional. A San Diego woman says her 16-year-old son researched how to take his life with a $3 can of computer cleaner–and succeeded. In October, she found him unresponsive on his bed with a plastic bag over his head.

Short of death, people who abuse inhalants risk permanent and severe brain damage. The human brain is composed of about one-third fatty tissue. Inhalant vapors literally dissolve the brain tissue. Chronic inhalant abusers may permanently lose the ability to walk, talk and think. Other side effects include confusion, hyperactivity, physical aggression, numbness, hearing loss, headache, muscle weakness, abdominal pain, irregular heartbeat, and damage to all major organs.

Parents, teachers and other community members who impact youth can prevent inhalant abuse. Most experts agree that simply providing children with information that inhalants are poisons usually will NOT change behaviors. "Adults must know the common household products kids abuse as poisonous inhalants and know the ways kids huff vapors," says Tapp. "Parents can teach kids decision making skills necessary to withstand the allure of getting high and rehearse with them the things they might say or do in response to an offer that is harmful."

As Cynthia Bramley McCormick will tell you, inhalant abuse is right under our noses and death is just a breath away. "I can't help as a parent feeling there was more I could have done. I don't want another parent to go through this, or a child to feel so desperate they turn to inhalants to get high."