SIGNS YOUR KID MIGHT BE HUFFING.

You cannot afford to be in denial regarding your child's involvement in inhalant abuse. Parents must beware of the signs because children are generally unaware of the concequences. Though the signs are almost impossible to detect, here are some cluesthat your kid might be huffing:
. watery eyes
. excessive vomitting
. paint stains on fingers
. slurred speech
. short term memory loss
. emotional instability
. cognitive impairment
. wide-based ataxic gait
. staggering or stumbling
. tremors
. loss of sense of smell
PRODUCTS ABUSED AS INHALANTS
Inhalants are legal, everyday products that have useful purposes. Here is only a sampling of items that become poison in your kid if misused:
. gasoline
. spray paint
. air refreshner
. model airplane glue
. rubber cement
. household glue
. hair spray
. deodorant
. felt-tipped markers
. fabric protector
. nail polish remover
. paint thinner
. type correction fluid
. octane booster
. spot remover
. vegetable cooking spray
. aerosol whipped cream
. propane
. helium
. video head cleaner
. air conditions refrigerant
Any time these products are "huffed" they have the potential to kill
EFFECTS OF HUFFING/SNIFFING ON THE BODY
Nearly all abused products produce effects similar to anaesthetics, which slow down the body's functions. Depending on the dossage,users can experience slight stimulation, feeling of less inhibition, or loss of consciousness. Huffing can damage the heart,kidneys, brain, liver, bone marrow, and other organs, as well as psychological problems. Users seeking treatment suffer rate of relapse and require more than a month of detoxification. Most importantly, huffing can cause sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome - immediate death the first, 10th, 100th time a person inhales.
HOW TO TALK TO YOUR KID ABOUT HUFFING
Education about huffing must start early. Arm yourself with the facts, then be able to age-appropriately explain those facts. Clarify that inhalants are not drugs, butdeadly chemicals and poisons. A continuing childhood-long education about the dangers of huffing can prevent curiosity and the temptation to experiment.