But what they might not know is how dangerous it is. Even baby boomers who partied through the 1960s may be unaware of this form of substance abuse. It ranks right after alcohol, tobacco and marijuana.
Surveys show that one in four children either huffs or knows someone who does.
Kitchen and bathroom cabinets contain dozens of common products that are dangerous when inhaled. They include cooking spray, disinfectants, furniture polish and wax, hair spray, nail polish remover, oven cleaner and spray deodorant. Other items include butane, gasoline, glues and adhesives, paint and paint thinner and rust remover. That was the case with Pete Foehrkolb, who had a high IQ, had been raised in a religious household and was described as a bookworm. Catherine Foehrkolb had known her son was smoking cigarettes, but later she learned he and his friends also had tried inhalants a couple of times.