Huffing is the act of getting high by inhaling toxic fumes from legal household or industrial items. Other names for this act are bagging and sniffing.  Huffing is responsible for over 1,000 U.S. deaths annually.   Many parents are worried about the children doing drugs but do not usually consider household items as drugs, but inhalant abuse is third to alcohol and marijuana in drug use by teens.   Huffing is a common trend, twenty percent of all eighth graders have huffed inhalants.

Most Common Signs of Inhalant Abuse
1. Red, runny eyes or nose
2. Chemical breath
3. Slurred speech
4. Excessive, or odd laughter
5. "Drunk" appearance
6. Glassy, dilated, or constricted eyes
7. Sweating
8. Nonsensical talk, paranoia
9. Withdrawal from family
10. Apathy
11. Rags/Cotton balls and plastic bags with chemical         odor
12. Correction fluid on nose, fingers, or clothes
13. Markers in pockets

Most Common Items used for Huffing
Although there is thousands of items around the house or office the most common items used for huffing are hair spray, gasoline, rubber cement glue, furniture polish, air fresheners, spray paint, liquid correction fluid, paint thinners, inhalers, breath spray, felt tip markers, propane gas, cleaning fluids, tape head cleaners, aerosol whipped cream propellants, vegetable cooking sprays, paint-thinners, degreasers, dry-cleaning fluids, and art or office supply solvents.

http://www.inhalants.com

What to do if someone is Huffing

• Remain calm and do not panic.
• Do not excite or argue with the abuser when they are under the influence, as they can become aggressive or violent.
• If the person is unconscious or not breathing, call for help. CPR should be administered until help arrives.
• If the person is conscious, keep him or her calm and in a well-ventilated room.
• Excitement or stimulation can cause hallucinations or violence.
• Activity or stress may cause heart problems which may lead to "Sudden Sniffing Death."
• Talk with other persons present or check the area for clues to what was used.
• Once the person is recovered, seek professional help for abuser: school nurse, counselor, physician, other health care worker.
• If use is suspected, adults should be frank but not accusatory in discussions with youth about potential inhalant use.

http://www.inhalants.com/whatodo.html

Sites Used for Information
http://www.cbn.org/news/stories/huffing.asp
http://www.inhalants.com
http://augustachronicle.com/stories/090997/xtrm_huffing.html
http://www.altculture.com/aentries/h/huffing.html

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