INHALANT ABUSE organic solvents Nitrites Nitrous Oxide Presented

INHALANT ABUSE organic solvents, Nitrites, Nitrous Oxide Presented By: DDRO/DC 033

ORGANIC l l l l Gasoline or other car products Lighter fluid including charcoal and butane Aerosols spray items paints and compress air cleaner, adhesives, air fresheners, hair spray, shoe dressing Paint thinners and removers Transparent glues and rubber-cement, air plane glues Nail polish and removers Degreasers and cleaning fluids Abuse resulting in chemical burn damaging to the eyes, nose and throat areas

NITRITES Commonly prescribed for heart conditions l Called amyl nitrites or butyl nitrite Abuse can result in high blood pressure resulting in strokes or irregular heart conditions that can permanently damage the performance of the heart l

NITROUS OXIDE & HELIUM • Laughing gas used by dentists and anesthetics. Combination of nitrogen and oxygen to ease pain during medical or dental procedures. Commonly misused at parties along with the use of Helium as a means to alter your voice to sounding differently as being funny Abuse resulting in damage to your vocal cords (larynx) prolonged used can permanently damage your voice

Inhalant Abuse § Huffing or inhaling are highly being abused in the United States. Readily available in homes. § Resent survey from the Office of National Drug Control Policy by 8 th grade, 29. 2% of students admit to having used inhalants. (Elementary aged students and 11 -12 year olds have experimented with inhalants). § By 12 th grade, 51. 2% of teens experimented with inhalants at least once. § Inhalant abuse over the past 6 years has been linked to 800 deaths. Known term as (SSDS) sudden sniffing death syndrome. § Other potentials to causing many serious health problems.

Permanent Damage to your body § Psychological disorders like depression and suicidal thoughts and even suicide. § Permanent personality changes such as extreme mood swings § Memory and learning disabilities caused by brain damage § Lung, liver and kidney damage or complete failure of these vital organs § Limb numbness or paralysis § Hearing loss or Vision problems may result in Blindness

Why Huffing is popular n n Easily found in your home Inexpensive can be purchased freely at the local retailers or supermarkets Not easy to detect as other drug abuse, due to this fact these chemicals are not illegal by users. Parents and other adults are unaware of the increasing popularity of this form of abuse. Yet our youth are seeing it on T. V. You Tube which portrayed as HARMLESS and FUNNY.

Common Products Abused General household chemicals l Mixed with Prescription medications yours or others and over the counter drugs (OTC) l Office and Craft supplies l Personal hygiene products Thousand of common household products are being used to get high. The average that adolescents first try this form of drug abuse is 11 -12. l

Warning Signs ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ Slurred speech Chemical smell on breath or clothing Paint stains on the body or face Sores around the mouth Red eyes or runny noses not related to medical conditions such as colds or allergies Problems in school and sports performance The 3 D’S drunk, dizzy or dazed appearance

LIFE THREATING Medical Emergency o First- time users run the risk of (SSDS) Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome. o Abusers may suffer fatal irregularity of heartbeat (arrhythmia) or complete heart failure (arrest). o The risk of SSDS seems to be higher if the abuser engages in strenuous physical activity or is suddenly startled.

Summary of Medical problems o Heavy repeated abuse can result in life threating problems if not death o permanent brain damage o respiratory problems. o Blindness o Organ damage o Central Nervous system breakdown

REVIEWING Can you answer briefly the following questions. 1 -What are Inhalants? 2 - Why is this Drug Abuse Popular? 3 -What does the term SSDS mean? 4 - What are the 3 D’S? n

Conclusion: o o o o o You have only one life and you choose how to manage caring for it during your lifetime. Putting any foreign chemicals or substances into your body has a potential for permanent damage if not fatal results. It only takes one time that could cost you serious life threating results, if not death as an out come. Like to know more about this topic to share with your family go online to www. inhalants. org Increasing Peer pressure by so called friends or others, who offer any type of drug abuse as being cool, makes you look grown up and it can’t kill are misleading you. Red Flags should go up that they are not your friends. For friends would not put other friends in a life and death situation if they truly cared. Solutions: Being firm in NO means NO, by going somewhere else to be free from this type of peer pressure may ultimately save your life. Asking your true best friends to leave with you , calling a parent or trusted adult to come and pick you up is a responsible and mature choice. Remember to JUST SAY NO !!!!! And be safe and smart with your life This is why you must take responsibility for your actions and choices within your younger years towards a better lifestyles for living a longer and happier life.