HHS HealthBeat (April 30, 2007)

Huffing

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Glue. Shoe polish. Gasoline. Nail polish.  Common things of everyday life. But to some kids, drugs they use to get high. They breathe in the fumes. It’s called ``huffing.’’

It can kill them.

HHS’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration – SAMHSA – says 4 percent to 5 percent of girls and boys ages 12 to 17 have used inhalants. That works out to 1.1 million kids.

Don Coates of Everett, Washington, is the father of an 18-year-old son who died from inhaling butane fumes.

``I tried to educate my kids in such a way that they could be successful in life and healthy – and I missed one. We’ve got a lot of parents out there right now who are missing this.’’ (9 seconds)

SAMHSA’s Dr. Westley Clark says parents need to talk with their kids about this, too.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

Last revised: April, 30 2007