Certainly, prevention is key with inhalant abuse. If we are aware of the dangers of these substances before abuse starts, we can avoid its tragic costs. According to the Academy, substance abuse by young people is not limited to alcohol, cigarettes and other drugs. Substances that can be sniffed, huffed or inhaled are equally as harmful and prevalent. Abuse of inhalants can be extremely dangerous, causing severe permanent damage to the body, especially the brain.
Parents often have a hard time even imagining their child using household products for a quick high.
But while most drug abuse among children is on a steady decline, inhalant abuse is actually on the rise. Over the last 20 years inhalant abuse has nearly doubled. And studies show that nearly 20 percent of 8th graders in Louisiana have used some form of inhalants. A single inhalation or huffing experience can result in death. Inhalant abuse can also cause muscle spasms, short-term memory loss and hearing problems.