Kathy's son James did not die in a car accident or a shooting, said Hooley. Kathy's son died at the hands of an everyday, household product. Kathy s son died as a result of inhalant abuse. In Oregon, a 1998 study showed that 20 percent of eighth-graders had tried inhalants one out of every five students. Scarier yet is the fact that children can die after inhaling these substances only one time.
Inhalants also serve as gateway drugs that can lead young people toward other forms of drug abuse.
Inhalants produce an effect within seconds that may last from fifteen to forty-five minutes. They generally act as central nervous system depressants. After an initial euphoria, a depressed state follows that can be accompanied by sleepiness or sleep. Inhalants lower breathing and heart rates and impair coordination and judgement. Dosages must be repeated to maintain intoxication.