From Huffing to Dusting: What Are Your Kids Inhaling?

It's hard to keep up with all of the household products teens are using to get high. First it was sniffing - everything from glue, correction fluid, and paint to shoe polish and gasoline. Then it was huffing, so parents kept a watchful eye to ensure their teen wasn't inhaling nitrous oxide from cans of whipped cream. Now you have to look out for "dusting," a dangerous trend in which teens inhale compressed air from cans of computer dusting products like "Dust-Off."

What's the appeal of breathing toxic air through a can? It's a cheap way to get a quick high straight from the kitchen cabinet, and it's easy to buy from unsuspecting office retailers. Even shy, well-behaved children may dare to dust because the average grocery store clerk or office supply cashier won't ask embarrassing questions or give teens a hard time when buying common household products. Teens can experiment with these products without alarming their parents, spending a lot of money, or seeking out the neighborhood drug dealer.

Uncovering the Dangers
Teens underestimate the dangers associated with dusting because the products are readily available and they think they're inhaling odorless, nontoxic canned air. What they don't realize is that the gas in products like Dust-Off is heavier than air and is loaded with dangerous chemicals like tetraflouoethane, which acts as a refrigerant. Inhaling the compressed gas stops the flow of oxygen into the lungs, brain, and heart, resulting in a short-lived sense of euphoria - about 10 seconds of dizziness in many cases. One small breath of this toxic air can damage the kidneys, liver, heart, and brain, and can even result in paralysis, permanent brain damage, or cardiac arrest.

Unlike other drugs, dusting deaths are not caused by overdosing or taking too many "hits" over an extended period of time, but tend to occur at random with no warning. There are no clear indicators that there's a problem, like not feeling well or feeling that you've had too much. There's no safe amount to inhale and you can't be sure how your body will react until it's too late. In fact, 22 percent of all inhalant-abuse deaths occur among teens that have never sniffed, huffed, or dusted before. Suffocation, risky behavior (like driving recklessly or drowning), and aspiration make up 45 percent of inhalant-abuse fatalities, with the remaining 55 percent caused by "sudden sniffing death" (cardiac arrest).

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, inhalant abuse is most common among 14- and 15-year-olds, with some children starting as young as 6 years old. The National Prevention Coalition reports that one in five students in the U.S. has used an inhalant by eighth grade. By some estimates, inhalants are as popular as marijuana among middle school students.

Dust-Off and related products have been implicated in the deaths of a number of teens in recent years. When three teenage boys in Sacramento, Calif., died in a high-speed car accident, investigators found an empty dusting can in the vehicle. Some children have been found dead, passed out, or unresponsive with the Dust-Off straw still in their mouths. So much for a breath of fresh air.

What Parents Can Do
Dusting is just the start of the problem. Hundreds of common household products, from hairspray and spray deodorants to air fresheners and furniture polish to whipped cream and markers, can be used for an inhalant high.

In an effort to reduce dusting, retailers like Wal-Mart, Office Depot, and Staples have changed their policies relating to compressed air products. At some stores, customers must be at least 18 years old to purchase Dust-Off or similar products. Falcon, the maker of Dust-Off, has added a warning label to its product that expressly cautions that inhaling the product may be deadly. Some companies are experimenting with adding bitter-tasting chemicals or irritants to the cleaners to deter teens from inhaling them.

But parents can't rely on retailers to monitor their child's behavior. As with all dangers, parents must educate themselves about the problem and share the information with their children. Know the products typically used, the potential risks, and the warning signs. For example, teens that dust may be unusually excited or dazed, have slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, or nose bleeds, or stagger when they walk. The freezing air that comes out of the can may cause numbness, sores, or frostbite-like symptoms on the tongue, lips, vocal chords, or mouth. It can be difficult to detect the signs of dusting since there is little smell and the high subsides quickly, so parents must be vigilant.

If you suspect your teen may be dusting, look for empty cans of compressed air, computer or electronic cleaners, or aerosol cans in your teen's room. Check if any products are missing around the house. Talk to your child about the dangers of inhalants and set limits and boundaries around their time alone in the house or hanging out with friends. Most importantly, don't ignore your suspicions or concerns. One empty can may be a signal that your teen has a problem, and one little breath is all it takes to change your family forever.