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Home › Articles › Drugs and Alcohol › Sucking the Life From Your Child

Sucking the Life From Your Child

The Dangers of Inhalants

By Sue Marquette Poremba

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What You Can Do

As with any drug, parents need to be aware of the signs of possible use and abuse. The following are often signs that a youth is using inhalants:

  • Chemical odors on breath or clothes;
  • Paint stains, particularly on the face;
  • Soaked rags;
  • Hidden empty cans;
  • Appearing drunk, especially without alcohol on the breath;
  • Slurred speech or a unusually deep voice;
  • Frequent or unusual nose bleeds;
  • Nausea;
  • Lack of coordination;
  • Inattentiveness;
  • Irritability;
  • Depression.

Considering their easy access, particularly the solvents and aerosols, what can parents do to prevent their children from experimenting or abusing inhalants?

"First, parents must make it very clear to their children both with words and their own behavior that they are against use of any drugs, and explain to them that inhalants are a dangerous drug," Ridenour says. "Second, keeping track of what children do and who they hang out with is vital to preventing many risky behaviors, including use of inhalants. Third, it is very important to help children pursue things that help them mature in healthy ways. This can be done by spending time with them doing things like reading, things that the child enjoys and helping them to pursue the good activities or hobbies that they want to. Fourth, children need to learn ways to handle difficult emotions such as sadness, frustration or disappointment. These days, many people express these feelings as anger or irritation and get themselves into trouble. Children are learning to handle difficulties using anger and irritation, and they are getting into trouble, too."

After Schroeder learned how harmful inhalants were – "I had no idea they were this dangerous," – she decided that the light-headedness she felt after sucking helium from a balloon was a serious warning.


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