"And I'll huff and I'll
puff and I'll blow your house down." And with those words, the big bad wolf
managed to destroy the homes of two naïve pigs. The third pig, who was
better prepared than his brothers, not only survived the wolf's attack, but
managed to save the lives, albeit not the homes, of his brothers.
"The
Three Little Pigs" is a fairy tale with an important message for everyone.
Being armed against dangers and taking precautions can help save lives. But
what happens when the danger is not on the outside threatening to invade our
home, but rather on the inside?
But big bad wolves are not the only
ones huffing today. Our children are huffing a myriad of inhalants, many found
right in our safe and secure homes. Inhaling dangerous and potentially lethal
substances offers the user an easy way to get high; one that is inexpensive,
often unsuspected, and deadly.
Huffing, inhaling through one's mouth,
can kill, and it does. It can kill the first, the tenth, or the hundredth time,
a user huffs. This is known as Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome. According to
studies, use of inhalants is rising, and therefore the danger to our children
is rising as well. Use of inhalants is addicting, both physically and
psychologically. We need to be armed with the knowledge of where these dangers
can be found, what the health risks are and what the symptoms of a user might
be. Most importantly, we need to know what can be done to prevent and to treat
a user.
Inhalants are divided into three categories: solvents, gases,
and nitrates. All are commonly found around the house in paint thinners,
gasoline, glue, hair and deodorant sprays, and even whipped cream aerosols,
just to mention a few. Since we cannot eliminate them all, we must be
especially vigilant in monitoring our children, educating them about the
potential dangers of huffing and looking for symptoms of use.
Using
inhalants provides a desired effect of intoxication such as stimulation and
lessening of inhibitions. Unfortunately, a user may also lose consciousness,
become violent, or experience hallucinations or heart dysfunction. The
worst-case scenario is Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome. While use of inhalants
may lead to some serious, but treatable maladies such as liver and kidney
damage and blood oxygen depletion, it may also lead to some irreversible
effects include hearing loss, limb spasms, central nervous system or brain
damage and bone marrow damage. Chronic abuse of inhalants may lead to damage to
the brain, kidneys, and liver.
As parents, we need to be on the lookout
for the warning signs so that we may recognize and protect our loved ones
against the potential harm they might be inflicting upon themselves. Symptoms
of inhalant use include slurred speech, unusual breath odor, red eyes, runny
nose, dazed appearance, and chemical smell on clothing. Know the dangers, the
warning signs, and where to go for help. Protect your loved ones from the evils
of huffing.
The third week of March, March 21st - 27th is National
Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week (NIPAW). For more information about the
dangers of inhalants you call the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition at
1-800-269-4237, access the Web @ http://whitehousedrugpolicy.gov. or contact
the Plumsted Township Alcohol and Drug Alliance at 609-758-0399.
Submitted
by Robin Witkowski |
