What Everyone
Needs To Know
About Inhalant
Abuse
OUR GOAL
To provide students, staff, families, and the communities of the
Los Angeles Unified School District with comprehensive support services and resources
to promote the awareness, education, and prevention of inhalant abuse.
What Is Inhalant Abuse?
Deliberate inhalation of fumes,
vapors or gases to become
intoxicated
“Sniffing” or “Huffing”
More than 1,400 household
products can be abused
Over 2.1 million youth, ages 12-17,
have used an inhalant to get
intoxicated
Inhalant Abuse Starts Early
 1 in 4 youth admit to having used
inhalants by the 8th grade.
 Third most abused substance after
alcohol and marijuana for 9th graders
and third most abused substance after
marijuana and painkillers for 11th
graders.
 Inhalant Abuse usually begins at age
10 or 11. However children as young as
6 have been known to experiment with
inhalants.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System Survey, 2003
California Attorney General; 12th Biennial California Student Survey, 2007-08.
Commonly Abused Products
 Gases
 Nitrous oxide, helium, refrigerants
 Cleaning Agents
 Spot removers, degreasers
 Solvents and Fuels
 Butane, propane, nail polish
remover, paint thinner/remover,
correction fluid, permanent markers,
gasoline, engine octane boosters
Commonly Abused Products
 Aerosols
 Spray paint, hair spray, air freshener,
deodorant, fabric protector, computer
keyboard cleaners
 Adhesives
 Model airplane glue, rubber cement,
PVC cement
 Cooking Products
 Cooking spray, aerosol whipped cream
toppings, canned cheese products
 Nitrites
 Amyl nitrite, butyl nitrite (“poppers” or
“snappers”)
“Whippets,” “crackers” and
balloons (aka “nos/z”) associated
with nitrous oxide abuse
Methods of Abuse
 “Sniffing” - inhaling directly through the nose
from a product container, plastic and/or
paper bag, including chip bags, soda cans,
clothing, back packs.
 “Huffing” - inhaling through the mouth from a
chemical-soaked rag, open container or
balloon.
 “Bagging” - inhaling through the nose and/or
mouth. Example: Putting a bag over one’s
head and inhaling.
For maximum effect, youth inhale deeply
and then take several more short breaths.
Risky Business…
 Nervous system and brain damage
 Irreversible damage to liver and kidneys,
bone marrow
 Numbness and tingling of the hands and
feet and/or muscle weakness
 Hearing loss, visual impairment
 Sudden Sniffing Death
 Individuals can die the first time or
anytime from inhalant use.
 22% of SSD-related deaths were as a
result of first time use.
DEATH CAN RESULT
the first time or anytime someone
uses an inhalant.
The techniques and methods of
administration can be just as
deadly as the toxic products
themselves.
Common Misclassified
Injuries…
 Inhalant use is often underreported due
to misidentified injuries:
 Suffocation as a result of the displacement
of oxygen in the lungs
 Choking on vomit
 Asphyxiation when plastic bag covers the
head
 Explosion or combustion of volatile fumes
 Other accidents related to the loss of
consciousness and/or loss of motor skills
Be on High Alert
 Toxic effects are short-lived
(average 30 seconds to 3 minutes)
 First clues
 Change in behavior at home and/or
school
 Drop in grades and loss of interest in
favorite activities
 Change in friends
 Medical signs are often non-specific
 No quick diagnostic tests available
 Difficult to detect the specific product
used
Physical Warning Signs
 Drunk, dazed or dizzy appearance
 Glassy or watery eyes/nose
 Slurred or disoriented speech
 Lack of physical coordination
 Nausea, loss of appetite
 Spots, burns, sores around the mouth
 Chemical odor on clothing and/or
breath
Other Warning Signs
 Having multiple household products
without a reason
 Hidden baggies, rags, or empty aerosols in
unusual places
 Whipped topping or other household
aerosols are always low on propellant
 Excessive use of perfumes, body sprays,
breath mints to hide odor of chemicals
Other Warning Signs
 Paint or other products on face, lips, nose or
fingers
 Fingernails painted with permanent markers or
correction fluid
 Constant smelling of clothing, markers, rags
 Butane lighters (empty or partially filled) or refill
cans especially if youth doesn’t smoke
 Multiple canisters or overuse of computer
keyboard cleaners
Short-Term Effects
 Headache
 Fatigue
 Abdominal pain
 Lack of coordination
 Muscle weakness
 Severe mood swings
 Violent behavior
 Slurred speech
 Numbness, tingling in hands and
feet
 Visual disturbances
 Apathy
 Impaired judgment
 Dizziness
 Lethargy
 Stupor
 Loss of consciousness
 Limb spasms
Long-Term Effects
 Weight loss
 Muscle weakness
 Disorientation
 Inattentiveness
 Lack of coordination
 Depression
 Memory Loss
Brain Damage in a
Toluene Abuser
healthy
abuser
Brain images show shrinkage of brain tissue in a toluene abuser,
B, as compared to a non-abusing individual, A. Note the smaller
size and the larger, empty (dark) space within the toluene
abuser’s brain.
National Institute on Drug Abuse, courtesy of Neil Rosenberg, M.D.
BOOKING PHOTO
 Forty-one year old man arrested
for "abusing harmful
intoxicants.” He huffed spray
paint and needed more. Law
enforcement officials stated his
pupils were constricted and he
spoke very slowly.
Reasons for Abuse
 Availability – Products are readily available at home,
schools, and neighborhood stores.
 Legal – In California, it is not illegal to sell most inhalable
products to minors.
 Inexpensive – Products can be purchased for less than
a dollar.
 Quick Acting – Effects are felt within seconds and are
short-lived, which leads to more repetitive usage.
 Easy to Use – Inhalant abuse does not require
traditional paraphernalia. Plastic bags and clothing,
which are accessible to youth, are common items
used.
Approaches to Teaching
Inhalant Abuse Prevention
 Inhalant abuse prevention should start in
kindergarten.
 Discuss the damaging effects of inhalants
on the brain and body.
 Associate abusable products with
poisons, fire hazards and body pollutants.
 Encourage safe use of products
according to directions.
Approaches to Teaching
Inhalant Abuse Prevention
(continued…)
Education about inhalant use can
increase the likelihood of abuse when not
approached correctly.
It is important not to stimulate curiosity or
experimentation.
Approaches to Avoid
 Do not discuss specific products that
could be abused.
 Do not inform students that inhalants
can get you “high.” This will make
them associate inhalable products
with drugs, instead of poisons.
 Never explain or demonstrate
techniques for inhaling products to
students.
For Parents
The Inhalant Abuse Prevention Kit offers
brochures and fact sheets with suggested
talking tips for youth.
For younger children, parents should:
 Play a game: “Is it safe to smell or touch?”
 Discuss the purpose of household products
For older children, parents should:
 Ask if they know about inhalant abuse
 Tell them about the physical and emotional
consequences
 Monitor your teen’s activities
 Do not mention specific products
For School Staff
The Inhalant Abuse Prevention Kit offers gradespecific standards based curriculum.
For younger students, staff should:
 Discuss the term “toxic”
 Associate inhalants with “poisons”
 Practice reading product labels
For older students, staff should:
 Teach students the importance of using
household products safely
 Teach students about the adverse effects
inhalants have on the brain and body
Treatment Options Are Limited
 Traditional drug treatment facilities do not
commonly admit inhalant abusers because:
 Failure rate is very high
 Treatment takes months, possibly years
 Addiction to inhalants is as strong as that to
cocaine
 Most treatment facilities are not equipped
to handle complexity of abusers’ emotional
and physical needs
In An Emergency
 If someone is unconscious, call 911
immediately.
 If you suspect someone is under the
influence of an inhalant:
 Immediately seek assistance from your school
nurse and administrator.
 Keep them calm to reduce cardiac stress.
 Whenever possible, identify product(s) to
facilitate emergency response.
 Contact the Poison Control Center at
(800) 222-1222 or the “800 Number” on the
label of the product.
LAUSD BUL-3277.1
Preventive Measures and
Mandatory Procedures for
Students Who Violate Laws
Regarding Drugs, Alcohol,
Tobacco, and Other Intoxicants
CALIFORNIA INHALANT LAWS
Legislature recognizes inhalants as a “drug.”
California Penal Code § 13860
In 2007, the State Legislature declared its
support to increased efforts by local law
enforcement agencies working in conjunction
with school districts to suppress and prevent
drug abuse, specifically identifying Inhalants
as a recognized drug.
CALIFORNIA INHALANT LAWS
Penal Code § 380: Selling or Distributing TolueneBased Products to Minors is Illegal
Penal Code § 381: Possession of Toluene-Based
Products to Get High is Illegal
Penal Code § 381b: Possession of Nitrous Oxide to
get High is Illegal
Penal Code § 381c: Selling or Distributing Nitrous
Oxide to Minors is Illegal
For more information, please visit:
www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html
Family
Parents
Peers
Society
Addressing the
inhalant abuse
issue is
everyone’s
responsibility.
Educators
Role Models
Media
Community
Inhalant Related Resources
http://schoolsafety.lausd.net/
Web-based Training for Parents
www.inhalantabusetraining.org
Alliance for Consumer
Education
www.inhalant.org
National Inhalant
Prevention Coalition
www.inhalants.org
National Institute on Drug Abuse
(NIDA)
www.inhalants.drugabuse.gov
Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Service Administration
www.ncadi.samhsa.gov
Partnership for a Drug-Free
America
www.drugfreeamerica.org
Healthy City
www.healthycity.org
Poison Control Center
(800) 222-1222
211 LA County
(formerly known as Info Line)
211 or (800) 339-6993
For access to community
health and human services
in the Los Angeles County
and City areas, 211 is
available 24 hours/day, in
multiple languages.
Collaborative Partners
 Los Angeles Unified School District
 Local District 5, LAUSD
 Office of City Attorney, City of Los Angeles
 Los Angeles Police Department
 Hollenbeck Teen Community Police Advisory Board
 Alliance for Consumer Education
 National Inhalant Prevention Coalition
 Partnership for a Drug Free America