How to Know if Your Kids Are Huffing
73What is Huffing?
Huffing, bagging, or sniffing is the inhalation of chemical vapors for a quick high. An estimated two million kids aged 12-17 are doing it. But first experiences can be as early as 6 - 8. It's one more horrible thing we've got to bring up before their friends do. While we've been getting serious about drugs and alcohol, kids have started doing pure poison. Inhalants are cheap and available in most households. Kids huff paint thinner, gasoline, markers, nail polish, correction fluid, and rubber cement. Just about anything in an aerosol can be mind altering if inhaled deeply. On top of that, a 2005 study shows that girls are huffing more than boys. Gee I wonder why - all those fabulous beauty products we push on them smell great.
Why Would My Kid Try Huffing?
Why not? Their friends tell them it's a good idea and if you haven't specifically addressed furniture polish as a dangerous substance, how are they to know? Few of us haven't sniffed the tip of a Sharpie in jest. But it's not funny. This is a trend that probably won't go away too soon. Talk to your kids - even the little ones.
If you want to be disturbed, or if you want to scare your child, just search U-Tube for kids huffing. There are plenty of messed up kids out there eager for you to get a good look at the effects of huffing.
A police officer's child dies from inhalants.
How Would I Know if My Kid Were Huffing?
A kid high on chemicals will be dazed, slur speech, and may lose appetite or be nauseous. Look for general drunk-like behavior. He may have a runny nose and sores rashes around the mouth and nose. A common tip off to parents is the strong chemical odor on the breath.
You may see paint or other stains from the cans on the child's face, hands, or clothing. Beware of an excess of empty containers in the trash or hidden around the house or yard. Kids may put the substance on a rag and inhale it from there instead of directly from the can so watch for chemical soaked cloth or clothing.
What Are the Effects of Huffing?
Because inhalants are poison, and that it's going straight into the blood stream, the first experiment can be fatal. The most common cause is sudden cardiac arrest. Other fatalities include injuries, suffocation and burns. Choking on vomit is another tragic end to huffing. As with any other high, a low soon follows, putting the child at risk for depression and even suicide.
It takes about two weeks for inhalants to leave the body and in that time the child may continue to feel nausea and possibly lose weight. Huffing damages the brain, affecting memory, concentration, hearing, and coordination. Over time permanent brain damage is possible. Chronic use of inhalants can also cause heart, lung, liver, and kidney damage.When I was in High School (10 years ago) I knew a kid who did this. Within probably two years he was diagnosed with ADD. Now he holds a very basic job building cabinets. What was his potential? Much more. He used to be "gifted" and in honors.
I have done this.I am not going to lie, I didn't do it either as a "tryout" I got addictied, I am addicted... even the spray you put on your shoes to protect them from weather...I spray it in my shoe, then I shove my face into my shoe, and breathe in and out... fast and slow... I like it, and I need help though...Links to help?
This is a drug addiction. You have to ask for help. Here are just a few links:
http://www.addictionhelpservices.com/inhalantesSol//www.addiction-help-line.com/inhalant_addiction.html
MY 12 YEAR WENY AND BOUGHT SIX CANS OF FAKE AEROSOLE SNOW IS THIS A SIGN TRAT ISHOULD BE ALARMED WITH .
Find out why.
My 10 year old is already involved with drugs from his friends..... I need help!
Zach, there should be ad links to resources for dealing with your child's problem on this page. If not, check your local phone book, or search the web for help. Schools should also have information about what's available in your area. Fight hard.
My son started huffing then turned gay.
i am 11 and what is huffing i mean what if someone does it on accident (huffs) and their parents think they r on what this topic is about i am confused and i would never huff
I found a torch my nephew and his friends had awhile back. Next I found a fire extinguisher with the hose cut off. I told my mom and she told my sister--his mother. I was worried, but more so of a fire as I didn't realize what "huffing" is. Tonight, I found this nephew and his friends had gone into a small enclosed room in the house with spray paint,,which I had seen my nephew shaking earlier but didn't think much of it. he is a good kid but I am woried so I confronted both him and my sister. My nephew is athletic and smart, but I have recently noticed a severe change in his attitude--he gets very irratated easily. I am beside myself with worry as my sister seems to take this info with a grain of salt,,after all, her kid wouldn't lie to her nor do such a thing---she thinks. HOW can I get through to both of them before a tragedy occurs??
I THINK MY 13YR OLD SON MAY BE HUFFING . HOW CAN I STOP IT KNOW ? IS THEIR A DRUG TEST THAT SHOW IT ? THANKS FOR HELP.
HUFFING WILL NOT TURN YOUR CHILD GAY!! IT STILL SUPRISES ME HOW STUPID PEOPLE ARE! MAYBE THATS WHY YOUR SON STARTED HUFFING, TO REMOVE HIMSELF FROM YOUR IGNORENCE!
Let us be serious! Anything can be abused and cash can be wasted in many ways. Buying too many pairs of shoes is one thing, but mutilating your body is never the answer to bordom, pressure from friends, or comfort. Just think our bodies can barely break down the sugars we take in. If you think your parents or grandparents would disapprove, then you will probably think that way when you are thier age. What are we here for. Do we want a better world? If you don't want to be productive, creative and feel good about yourself inside and out, then now is the time to take action and make a change. As a teen or even a child know when something like this is a bad idea. Just remember kids, "Drugs, no matter what form they take, will change your life forever. It is easier to say "no" than to change a bad lifestyle. It is a waste of money, time and health. I will be happy when I get my body to function like it should, and when I am 80 I will be thankfull. I am attaching the DEA's url. I hope it shows some insight on the matter. If not there are many more places to find help. Sometimes a simple explanation and the passion of love and caring and honest LISTENING will guide our young down the right path. Sustance abuse is illegal. A life of drugs is not worth the prosecution, fines, stress, hospital bills. Most of all each one of you is important. Love is strong, give to others, be the person you want to grow up to be. Live life to it's full potential. It's never too late to say no.
We suspect our nethew who is only 13 of doing this, for a while now cans of deoderant and air freshners have been going missing and have been thrown over the next door neighbours yard empty, the other day my sister found a bed sheet in his drawer which smelt very strongly of deoderant, we have been questioning him for a while about his change of mood, aggresion, depression, etc. My sister had a phone call from my nethews school saying he had been falling asleep in class, after being taken to the doctors with Mouth Ulcers and pains in his chest, the dr bought it to my sisters attention that he thought it was a sign of drug abuse, how can we help him ? he is very difficult to get through to ! Could it be to late and does anyone no of a support group for him to maybe talk to people more his own age about this we live in sydney australia
Thankyou
Damn, I am 15 and it is amazing how ignorant some of you people sound... Stop freaking out an investigate.. When they are not home go through there room and check for empty cans. This includes the following..
Axe / Other deodorant spray cans
Bathroom scenting / House Spray (Like outs for example)
Any paint or other chemicals lying around..
HOW TO PREVENT
Lock up any chemicals that you don't want your kid to get into.. It's as simple as that.. Don't tell me its to hard cause my mother was a foster parent and I know how easy it is to go to wal*mart and get a plastic cabinet lock.
How to investigate
Go through the house start looking around check all the cans that are running low.. Go to the store buy some bathroom spray.. Put one in each bathroom and have an extra left over somewhere.. Wait a few days and let him / her know that there is an extra in the cabinet in-case one runs out.. Wait a few days and start checking the container to see how much is in each of the cans...
Wow, im 15 and I could figure that out AMAZING!
i sniffed axe deoderent many times and i am glad that god let me live affter all that i now live a sober life help your kids before its to late
My 14 year old son now has Epilepsy because of huffing axe deodorant spray. i use to come home and the whole basement(where his room is)would smell of axe spray. He said him and his cousin would have axe spraying fights. One night he fell and hit his head splitting it open and had to get 8 staples. A week later he had a major seizure. Had a couple more and after MRI's and an EEG test found out he is now Epileptic. A can of spray should last awhile. If you see empty cans lying around and they seem to be going through spray unusually fast, they are probably huffing the stuff. He hit his head while huffing i found out later from his sister. Watch your kids close cause if they are huffing they usually will not admit to it, too many dangers or death from doing this crap!
Do your due diligence. If you suspect this, then by all means remove any and everything from you home. We have gone to non aerosol everything. There is no paint, sprays, pain thinners, glue, or ANYTHING in my home anymore. I can't always control what goes on in other homes, but I certainly can in my own.
Mary Ann says:
3 years ago
I'm so glad you addressed this issue. One of my cousins, at the age of 14, died from huffing deodorant almost 30 years ago. As parents we need to realize this is one high that we make readily available. We also need to be aware that it is happening in the schools. Two girls were caught huffing in the bathroom at a middle school my daughter attended last year.