With all parents have to worry about with their kids, who would have thought that household products would be one of them. Inhalants, often called kids' drugs, are almost as prevalent as marijuana use among eighth graders. Because the products are legal, inexpensive, and readily available, kids often think sniffing them is harmless. But inhalants are dangerous on many levels.
Inhalants can also cause death by suffocation when fumes replace oxygen in the lungs.
Although many products can be inhaled, nearly all have the same effects-giddiness, grogginess and intoxication. Using them over a long period of time can cause headaches, muscle weakness, abdominal pain, nausea, nosebleeds, hepatitis, violent behavior, irregular heartbeat, and brain damage. Today, nearly 20 percent of all adolescents report using inhalants at least once in their lives. As evidence of inhalant use, parents should also look for chemical-soaked rags, bags, or socks, paint or stain marks on face, fingers, or clothing. And talk to your kids about inhalants and other drugs, soon and often.