Parents can miss some of the warning signs that their kids are at risk. For example, cigarette smoking by teens has been linked with an increased chance that they'll try illegal drugs. One in five 12th graders is a daily smoker. Drug use by kids is high. But less than one-third of teenagers name their parents as a source of information about drugs.
Inhalants are among the most dangerous substances kids abuse today.
Almost one in five kids report having used inhalants by the eighth grade. One half of all eighth graders can name at least three inhalants. And inhalants are also the easiest substance for kids to get, since they can find them right in the garage or under the kitchen sink. Kids may not realize the enormous risk they are taking. Inhalants starve the body of oxygen and can cause severe brain damage and even sudden death.