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Inhalant use among county's youth is down but still too high
In 2005, a survey indicated that 8.2 percent of the county's eighthgraders had used inhalants. While the most recent survey results from 2007 note a sizable reduction of this trend to 4.1 percent, county rates are still higher than the national average of 3.9 percent. SAFE (Substance Abuse Free Environment), a county coalition that addresses youth tobacco, alcohol and other drug use, is determined to reduce that number even further. "Parents know about glue, gasoline, paint thinners, but are amazed to learn that there are 1,400+ legal products out there, including aerosols," says SAFE's Executive Director Wayne Frith. "[Inhalant use] has been around forever, but it's not something parents are talking about. So it's about raising awareness, because once kids experience getting high, they're much more likely to do it again and again and again." Kids are using common household products, all of them legal, to experience the toxic effects that alter the brain - not fully comprehending the very dangerous, sometimes deadly, risks associated with huffing. "[Inhalants are] a gateway drug, a precursor, leading to others," said Sharyl Adams, substance abuse prevention specialist for SAFE. There is a strong, statistical correlation between kids who start with inhalants and future abuse of other drugs. According to national statistics, youth who had used an inhalant in the past year were: • Three times more likely to have used marijuana • Seven times more likely to have used hallucinogens • Eight times more likely to have used cocaine • Two times more likely to have used heroin During National Inhalant & Poison Awareness Week earlier this month, SAFE sponsored an event featuring a nationally recognized activist on the issue of inhalant abuse. For Sgt. Jeff Williams, a 13-year veteran of the East Cleveland, Ohio Police Department, this issue hits close to home. In 2005, Williams tragically lost his own son, Kyle, to inhalant abuse. At the public event, Williams described his personal loss of a son who had only been "huffing" for two weeks before it killed him. Since his son's death, he has dedicated himself to educating the country on this issue through workshops and appearances on the Today Show, CNN and the NBC Nightly News. Highlighting his concern that our children are learning about the various forms of inhalant abuse from movies, the Internet and YouTube, Williams said, "Teachers, parents say, 'Don't tell the kids because then they'll try it.' My message is they already know, so we have to talk with our kids about it." SAFE is currently piloting training for personnel at three middle schools in the county - Carver, Swift Creek and Salem Church - facilitated by Adams. "If we hadn't gotten the survey results showing that we were twice the national average regarding inhalant abuse, quite frankly, we wouldn't be doing this" said Adams. The program's curriculum will be available to personnel in all middle schools beginning next school year and will be introduced to students in their health classes via school nurses. "Chesterfield County parents are on the cutting edge of inhalant substance abuse efforts nationally," said Louisa Lief, school nurse at both Swift Creek and Midlothian middle schools. Carver participated in the SAFE workshop last month. "There was a bit of shock and ah-ha moments for our teachers. It was like seeing the piece of a puzzle come together," said Principal Don Ashburn. "Sometimes in the past, teachers have seen a child with declining grades. They've made contact with the parents, the parents have conducted drugtesting and then you have this training and you go 'okay, it's clear to me now'" in realizing that inhalant abuse might just be the cause. The training also included identifying substances in classrooms that might be used as inhalants. The plan is to replace those with more appropriate substances. As a result of this training, Ashburn said two teachers have already come forward to express concerns about specific students. "Our message to our teachers is we'd rather have you come forward and be unfounded in your suspicion, rather than our teachers have suspicions but not come forward."
Swift Creek staff recently completed the SAFE training program. The school also hosted a parent workshop sponsored by SAFE and the PTA. Despite the disappointing turnout (only six parents attended), Adams and Lief led the parents in attendance through a comprehensive 90-minute presentation, covering all aspects of inhalant abuse - how and why kids do it, what household products are used, signs of abuse, along with suggestions on how parents should talk to their kids about this issue (see box). At the end of the workshop, Swift Creek Principal Mary Robinson said, "I would rather we be enlightened than hide our heads in the sand." Tips for educating your child: • Beginning at an early age, talk about poison prevention and product safety. • Read labels with your child and teach him/her how to do so. • Talk to him/her about the serious effects of abusing products. • Reinforce peer resistance skills and practice these with your child. • Highlight that inhalants are poisons rather than drugs. How inhalants kill: • Suff ocation • Asphyxiation • Aspiration (choking) • Fire or explosion • Fatal injury while under the influence • Sudden Sniffing Death Long-term effects of inhalant use: • Memory loss • Impaired vision • Loss of coordination • Slurred speech • Reduced lung function • Bone marrow damage • Muscle weakness • Depression • Dementia For more information on inhalant abuse, contact SAFE, 796-7100 or www.chester fieldsafe.org. |
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