When did I get old?

I remember thinking in my wild, teenage years that, after all the shenanigans I pulled, I would certainly be much wiser when I became a parent. Having been an expert at making bad decisions when I was young and invincible, if my own kids ever started getting into drugs or alcohol, I would know immediately, right?

Well, my kids are only three and five years old, but I have recently discovered I am totally out of the loop and, at 33, officially an old lady who apparently has no clue about pop culture and trends among teenagers. I am not sure when I crossed over, but it has most certainly happened. I bought no ticket, nor did I sign up for the Clueless Parent Program, but here I am. And this is how I know…

Photo by AMagill.

I recently started hearing news stories and teenagers talking about how one of the most popular ways to get high is by inhaling common household items like aerosol deodorant and computer duster. I was shocked. My initial response was “WHAT?” followed by the “When I was your age…” diatribe:

“When I was your age, you knew someone was doing drugs when you found their bong and syringe stash, but DEODORANT and CANNED AIR??? You can’t haul your kid to rehab just because they have odor-free pits and a clean keyboard!”

Sure I heard stories about people sniffing to get high when I was young, but according to the Center for Disease Control, inhalants are now second only to marijuana for drug use among youth. The Alliance for Consumer Education (ACE) calls huffing the high of choice for 6-12 year olds. It’s easy to see why, when you consider how cheap and accessible inhalants are. It is not illegal for a 12-year-old to purchase a can of whipped cream or aerosol deodorant and, unless they have 15 of these items loaded into their cart, it raises no red flags.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

This Today Show report tells the story of Jeff and Kathy Williams, whose 14-year-old son Kyle died suddenly when he inhaled computer duster. He had never tried drugs before, and his friend told him it was only canned air. How dangerous could that be?

Parents talk to their kids about the dangers of alcohol and drugs, but many parents aren’t aware enough of the huffing trend to educate their kids about it. According to ACE, parents are 50% less informed and concerned about inhalant abuse than alcohol, tobacco and marijuana use.

According to inhalant.org, huffing can kill you the very first time you try it. This is called Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome:

• The inhaled chemicals make the heart beat so rapidly that it can cause instant cardiac arrest.
• Huffing can also cause immediate asphyxiation when the fumes displace and prohibit oxygen from entering the lungs.
• People also often die from the accidents and injuries that happen under the influence of inhalants.

Many of these popular inhalants are products we all have in our homes. Inhalant.org has an excellent list of some of these common huffing products.

So how do you know if your child is abusing inhalants? Here are some warning signs from inhalant.org:

If someone is an inhalant abuser, some or all of these symptoms may be evident:

• Drunk, dazed, or dizzy appearance
• Slurred or disoriented speech
• Uncoordinated physical symptoms
• Red or runny eyes and nose
• Spots and/or sores around the mouth
• Unusual breath odor or chemical odor on clothing
• Signs of paint or other products where they wouldn’t normally be, such as on face, lips, nose or fingers
• Nausea and/or loss of appetite
• Chronic inhalant abusers may exhibit symptoms such as hallucinations, anxiety, excitability, irritability, restlessness or anger.

It is crucial that we warn our kids when they are young about the dangers of huffing because, according to ACE’s Monitoring the Future 2008 research, the rate of inhalant use peaks among 8th graders. However, studies by the Office of National Drug Control Policy found, when parents educate their kids about the risks of inhalants, their children are 50% less likely to abuse them. Let’s guard the safety of our kids by talking with them today about the dangers of huffing.

Tagged as: huffing, inhalants