Inhalant Dangers
From ThePlaz.com
Inhalant Dangers Health Poster Due 3/21/2006 with Michael Plasmeier, Cortney, and Gwen.
We must put on a 3 minute presentation to concerned PTA parantes about Inhalants. We must also produce a poster with all of the information.
Contents |
Poster (Gwen)
Gwen, this is your section.
- See pictures below
What the drug is (Cortney)
Inhalants, but what are some examples of these and what catorigises Inhalants?
How Inhalants are used (Cortney)
A few notes: How do kids inhale the compressed air used to clean computer equipment (also known as computer duster)? They put the straw that is supposed to blow air from between the keyboard keys into their mouth and inhale. Items with strong fumes are easy to sniff from containers, like markers or glue. Soaking a rag and stuffing it into one's mouth is known as huffing. Some inhalant abusers will spray an aerosol can contents directly into their mouth or nose, or they'll do what is called "bagging," spraying a substance into a plastic or paper bag and inhaling. Another popular way to inhale is to *fill a balloon and inhale, similar to the popular sucking helium.
Signs and Symptopms (Plaz)
- 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
How it affects the body (Plaz)
Dangers of Inhalants (Plaz)
- People don't think it dangerous because it is found around the house.
- Also the substances are legal
- Inhalant use can kill the first time – or any time – because the lack of oxygen can cause cardiopulmonary arrest. Regular or chronic use of inhalants can damage the brain, liver, kidneys, heart and lungs. Freon can cause internal frostbite. Users can suffocate (from putting plastic bags over the head, for example) or choke to death.
The Four Categories
Inhalants are divided into four categories:
- Volatile solvents – Include items such as nail polish remover, lighter fluids, paint thinner, cleaning products, correction fluid, felt-tip markers and gasoline.
- Aerosols – Iinclude items such as hair spray, spray paint, computer duster and anything that comes from an aerosol can.
- Gases – Include helium, nitrous oxide (laughing gas), freon, ether, butane and chloroform.
- Nitrites – Include the chemicals cyclohexyl nitrite, amyl nitrite and butyl nitrite. Amyl nitrite is a prescription drug to treat angina. The nitrites are sealed in capsules and are "popped" to release the vapors and are referred to as "poppers" in street lingo.
Any Additional Information (Gwen and Plaz)
Origin
How to prevent its use
"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. 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." -Ty Ridenour, a research associate in Penn State University's Prevention Research Center
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