More 12-year-olds use inhalants than they do marijuana, cocaine and hallucinogens combined, U.S. data released Thursday indicated.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration report indicated young people sniffed products such as refrigerant from air-conditioning units, aerosol computer cleaners, shoe polish, glue, air fresheners, hair sprays, nail polish, paint solvents, degreasers, gasoline or lighter fluids, the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition said in a release.

Data from the 2006-2008 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health indicated a rate of lifetime inhalant use among 12-year-olds of 6.9 percent, compared with a rate of 5.1 percent for non-medical use of prescription drugs; 1.4 percent for marijuana; 0.7 percent for hallucinogens; and 0.1 percent for cocaine.

"We continue to face the challenge of increasing experimentation and intentional misuse of common household products among the youngest and most vulnerable segments of our population -- 12-year-olds," NIPC Executive Director Harvey Weiss said. "The data are ominous...]]> Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:24:00 +0000 http://behavioralhealthcentral.com/index.php/20100222207352/Inhalant-latest/warn-kids-about-dangers-of-inhalants-bc-news2use-safety1mct.html?Itemid= http://behavioralhealthcentral.com/index.php/20100222207352/Inhalant-latest/warn-kids-about-dangers-of-inhalants-bc-news2use-safety1mct.html?Itemid=

For most parents, the idea of child-proofing ends once the child gets old enough to walk and talk.

But the need for child-proofing lasts even past the age when your child can go to a middle-school dance, play a school sport or babysit other children.

By the time your child becomes a teenager, poison dangers aren't as straightforward as keeping the cleaning supplies locked up. Drug abuse becomes a danger, and the substances in your home that you rarely think twice about can become lethal drugs to your tween or teenager.

Poison centers refer to inhalant abuse as "the silent epidemic" because most people do not know about the dangers of inhalants and abuse often goes unnoticed. The American Association of Poison Control Centers, as part of the upcoming Poison Prevention Week, wants you to be aware of these dangers, and offers the following tips aimed at preventing inhalants from becoming an...]]> Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:08:00 +0000 http://behavioralhealthcentral.com/index.php/20100201189027/Inhalant-latest/ace-launches-multimedia-campaign-to-support-inhalantorg-and-the-prevention-of-inhalant-abuse.html?Itemid= http://behavioralhealthcentral.com/index.php/20100201189027/Inhalant-latest/ace-launches-multimedia-campaign-to-support-inhalantorg-and-the-prevention-of-inhalant-abuse.html?Itemid=

The Alliance for Consumer Education’s campaign will be featured as part of A&E’s “Intervention: In-Depth” Series on Monday, February 1 at 9:00 PM Eastern.

For a multimedia version of this press release with videos, downloadable images and more, go to: http://www.stylewiz.com/mnr/ace/inhalant.html

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Alliance for Consumer Education (ACE) is launching a new public service announcement campaign to support its www.inhalant.org website, and its ongoing efforts to reach out to parents and children about inhalant abuse.

• Responds to skeptical media remarks concerning the significance of inhalant use;
• Recounts a recent personal experience that notes what can be learned from kids;
• Reminds NIPC Partners about the upcoming awareness campaign; and
• Encourages NIPC friends & family, especially those who receive our free resources, workshops and presentations that now is the time to open your hearts and wallets to help support our continuing efforts – not only is this a good thing in and of itself but time is running out to make your tax deductible gifts for the year (attorney’s & accountants why not encourage clients to make a yearend contribution to the NIPC?). Tonight is the first night of Chanukah – join in the celebration of this season by making a contribution … you don’t have to be Jewish to do a...]]> Jennifer Hageman Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:00:00 +0000 http://behavioralhealthcentral.com/index.php/20090522224/Inhalant-latest/perceived-risk-of-harm-and-intentions-of-future-inhalant-use-among-adolescent-inhalant-users.html?Itemid= http://behavioralhealthcentral.com/index.php/20090522224/Inhalant-latest/perceived-risk-of-harm-and-intentions-of-future-inhalant-use-among-adolescent-inhalant-users.html?Itemid= By Perron B.E.; Howard M.O.
  
  Objective: To identify predictors of perceived (a) risk of harm associated with inhalant use and (b) intention to use inhalants among adolescent inhalant users.
  
  Method: Participants were 279 lifetime inhalant users (Mage = 15.5, 84% male) identified in a statewide survey of 723 adolescents in Missouri Division of Youth Services' residential care for antisocial conduct. Youth completed interviews assessing inhalant and other drug use, psychiatric symptoms, and antisocial traits/behavior.
  
  Results: More than one-third (37%) of youth perceived experimental inhalant use as of slight or no risk; one-in-eight (11.9%) youth perceived regular inhalant use as of slight or no risk. Risk perceptions of experimental and regular inhalant use were not associated with intentions to use. Youth with friends/siblings who use inhalants were less likely to perceive risks associated with experimental and regular inhalant use...]]> Administrator Fri, 22 May 2009 12:44:06 +0000 http://behavioralhealthcentral.com/index.php/20090522223/Inhalant-latest/volatile-bodies.html?Itemid= http://behavioralhealthcentral.com/index.php/20090522223/Inhalant-latest/volatile-bodies.html?Itemid= Stories of Corporeal Pleasure and Damage in Marginalised Young People's Drug Use
  
  By MacLean S.
  
  Background: This paper explores the connection between meaning and corporeal pleasure in drug use experience through considering accounts of inhalant use made by marginalised young people in Melbourne, Australia. Inhalants (also known as volatile substances or solvents) have a reputation internationally as drugs of desperation rather than enjoyment. Corporeal pleasure as a motive for inhalant use is generally overlooked in policy, drug research literature and health education-as is frequently the case also in relation to other forms of drug use practiced by marginalised peoples. In contrast, harms such as brain damage and death are strongly emphasised.
  
  Methods: Twenty-seven young people with current or past experience of inhalant use were interviewed, each between one and three times. Participants were asked to speak about...]]> Administrator Fri, 22 May 2009 12:42:59 +0000 http://behavioralhealthcentral.com/index.php/20090522222/Inhalant-latest/an-adjusting-dose-procedure-for-assessing-the-reinforcing-effects-of-nitrous-oxide-with-humans.html?Itemid= http://behavioralhealthcentral.com/index.php/20090522222/Inhalant-latest/an-adjusting-dose-procedure-for-assessing-the-reinforcing-effects-of-nitrous-oxide-with-humans.html?Itemid= By Kangas B.D.; Walker D.J.
  
  Despite continued abuse, there is a paucity of empirical investigations on inhalants as reinforcers. The present study attempted to derive a method for studying the reinforcing effects of nitrous oxide (N2O) with human participants.
  
  An adjusting-dose procedure was employed to assess choice allocation for inhalation periods of varying doses of N2O. After experiencing the experimental parameters in forced-choice trials, participants made choices between a fixed dose of 0% N2O (i.e., 100% O2) and an adjusting dose of N2O (0-50% N2O in O2). The adjusting dose titrated as a function of the participant's choices. Conditions were run to stability and systematically replicated within-subject. Stable choice allocation served as both the chief dependent variable and an indication of the optimal reinforcing dose of N2O for that participant.
  
  Consistent with previous research on N2O, there was...]]> Administrator Fri, 22 May 2009 12:42:07 +0000 http://behavioralhealthcentral.com/index.php/?Itemid= http://behavioralhealthcentral.com/index.php/?Itemid=
  
  
  Data regarding reasons for using inhalants were examined using latent profile analysis. A three-class solution exhibited the best fit with the data. Although validation analysis revealed that the classes did not differ on demographic characteristics, classes exhibited significant differences across numerous clinical measures, including anxiety, problems associated with using substances, global symptom severity, and number of different types of inhalants used.
  
  
  
  Results indicate heterogeneity for reasons for use of inhalants and associated psychological distress. Findings may provide clues to future taxonomic development of inhalant abuse phenomena and prevention.
  
  
  
  © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.]]> Administrator http://behavioralhealthcentral.com/index.php/?Itemid= http://behavioralhealthcentral.com/index.php/?Itemid=
  
  
  A second analysis highlighted variables that discriminated properly identified from misclassified youth. False positives, those defined as being at-risk, but who repudiated inhalants, were significantly less likely than their at-risk peers to have used inhalants; they used inhalants and marijuana less frequently; were monitored more closely by parents; and were less rebellious (all p < .05). False negatives, defined as not at-risk, but who had not unequivocally rejected inhalants, were significantly more likely than their similarly classed peers to have used inhalants and marijuana, and to have used both more frequently; also, they were less highly acculturated.
  
  
  
  This study reaffirmed the utility of the TRA and underscored factors...]]> Administrator http://behavioralhealthcentral.com/index.php/?Itemid= http://behavioralhealthcentral.com/index.php/?Itemid=
  
  
  Methods: Analyses were based on structured psychiatric interviews of a nationally representative sample of 43,093 US adults.
  
  
  
  Results: The lifetime prevalence of SUDs among adult inhalant users was 96%. Alcohol (87%), marijuana (68%), nicotine (58%), cocaine (35%), hallucinogen (31%), and stimulant (28%) use disorders were more prevalent than inhalant use disorders (19%). An estimated 62% of inhalant users met criteria for a past-year SUD. Less education, residence in non-metropolitan areas, early onset of inhalant use, and a history of substance abuse treatment were associated with increased odds of having an inhalant use disorder. Inhalant users who were under age 30 or who were members of families with low incomes had increased odds of having nicotine dependence and an alcohol or drug use...]]> Administrator http://behavioralhealthcentral.com/index.php/?Itemid= http://behavioralhealthcentral.com/index.php/?Itemid=
  
  
  researchers conducted 32 baseline and 34 post-intervention community readiness assessment interviews in four rural Alaskan communities. These interviews with key informants from the communities were coded and analyzed using CRM methods to yield readiness scores for each community. The aggregate results were analyzed using hierarchical linear modeling (HLM), and the individual community scores were analyzed in the context of the overall study.
  
  
  
  
  
  Significant positive changes in community readiness were found across...]]> Administrator http://behavioralhealthcentral.com/index.php/?Itemid= http://behavioralhealthcentral.com/index.php/?Itemid=
  
  
  Method: Participants were 279 lifetime inhalant users (Mage = 15.5, 84% male) identified in a statewide survey of 723 adolescents in Missouri Division of Youth Services' residential care for antisocial conduct. Youth completed interviews assessing inhalant and other drug use, psychiatric symptoms, and antisocial traits/behavior.
  
  
  
  Results: More than one-third (37%) of youth perceived experimental inhalant use as of slight or no risk; one-in-eight (11.9%) youth perceived regular inhalant use as of slight or no risk. Risk perceptions of experimental and regular inhalant use were not associated with intentions to use. Youth with friends/siblings who use inhalants were less likely to perceive risks associated with experimental and regular inhalant use compared to youth without friends/sibling users. Adolescents who were...]]> Administrator http://behavioralhealthcentral.com/index.php/?Itemid= http://behavioralhealthcentral.com/index.php/?Itemid=
  
  
  However, most preclinical research has tended to focus on acute exposure, with limited work examining the neuropharmacological or toxicological mechanisms underpinning these changes or their potential reversibility with abstinence. Nevertheless, there is growing evidence that commonly abused inhalants share common cellular mechanisms, and have similar actions to other drugs of abuse. Indeed, the majority of acute behavioural effects appear to be underpinned by changes in receptor and/or ion channel activity (for example, GABAA, glycine and 5HT3 receptor activation, NMDA receptor inhibition), although nonspecific interactions can also arise at...]]> Administrator