Visual Culture and Health Posters

Title:: Unless You Know What to Look for, the Signs of Sniffing Inhalants Are Almost Invisible

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Description:

This poster is part of a series in a very different kind of public health campaign inspired by toxic chemicals. Created by the Texas Prevention Partnership (TPP), which was founded in 1990 by the Entertainment Industries Council and Harvey Weiss, the posters address the alarming trend of "huffing"--the inhaling of CFCs, Freon, household cleaning products, and other toxic chemicals for a quick high. At the time, inhalant abuse was gaining popularity at a staggering rate in the state of Texas and surrounding areas. Following a massive campaign that included the distribution of bilingual posters and radio and television public service announcements, Texas saw an immediate decline in the number of deaths from inhalant abuse, and between 1990 and 1994 there was a reduction of more than 32 percent in elementary school inhalant use and a reduction of about 20 percent at the high school level. This work inspired TPP to found and lead the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition.

The title message in this poster, covering the eyes of the model, informs parents, "Unless you know what to look for, the signs of sniffing inhalants are almost invisible." The blackened strip over the eyes in the photograph symbolizes how parents might be blind to the problem. The picture's caption identifies signs and symptoms of inhaling chemical fumes, reminding parents that one of four kids has abused them by seventh grade. The viewer is advised to "face this problem with both eyes open."

Number of Image Pages:

1 (1,276,975 Bytes)

Date:

1994

Creator:

Texas Prevention Partnership

Source:

Original Repository: The History of Medicine Division. Prints and Photographs Collection.

This image may also be accessed from the Images from the History of Medicine (IHM).

URL: http://wwwihm.nlm.nih.gov/

IHM Order Number: C00185

Publisher:

Texas Prevention Partnership

Rights:

Reproduced with permission of the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition.

Subject:

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH):: Inhalation Exposure; Public Health

Visual Culture and Public Health Keywords:: Chemical Exposure

Exhibit Category:

Environmental Health

Relation:

Sniffing Correction Fluid Can Stop Your Heart (1991)

Sniffing Markers Destroys Your Brain (1991)

Sniffing Spray Paint Destroys Your Lungs (1991)

We'd Like to Introduce You to the Cocaine of the 90s. Your Child May Already Be Familiar (1994)

This Ad Will Tell You Things about Sniffing Inhalants Your Child Probably Won't (1994)

Unique Identifier:

VCBBDN

Document Type:

Posters

Slides (photographs)

Language:

English

Format:

image/jpeg

image/tif

Physical Condition:

Good

Metadata Last Modified Date:

2004-02-02

U.S. National Library of Medicine, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894
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