The little known practice called huffing is becoming increasingly popular among pre-teens and teenagers. It can leave kids very intoxicated and can raise the heart rate to deadly levels. Younger kids try it because it's easy to access and cheap to get. Middle school kids can hide in a garage or scrounge around under cabinets to find cleaning fluids, spray paint, and cleaning solutions for a quick high. They often don't realize that just one experience can kill them.
Gases can significantly limit available oxygen in the air causing breathing to stop.
Huffers often use bags which can cause suffocation. Huffing can also lead to sudden sniffing death syndrome which some experts say is caused by cardiac arrest. Long term use of inhalants has also been associated with irreversible brain damage. In order to make parents more aware of the problem, SC Johnson, the Racine, Wisconsin firm that makes Pledge and Glade has produced an educational video to help parents spot abuse. What Parents Can Do Inhalants are household chemicals that kids use to get a quick and inexpensive high.