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Study Shows  Youngsters Use Inhalants as “Gateway” to Other Illicit Drugs

Author, Kelly Colihan, shares some alarming trends in preteen and teen use of inhalants ( Drugs administered by breathing in its vapors. Most inhalants are organic solvents such as glue and paint thinner or anesthetic gases) as “gateway” drug to other illegal and illicit drugs. Ms. Colihan and other child behavior experts share present date taken from over a half a million 12 through 17 year old student from across the United States. Child development experts are seeing increasing trends in younger children beginning to experiment with household products that include paint thinners, spray cans, glues and other toxic products to “get high.” The purpose of this article is to inform you, the parent or educator, so that you become aware of this growing trend and steps to take to prevent your child’s involvement.

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.

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