National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week: Dr. Jennifer Caudle

Dr. Jennifer Caudle is an osteopathic family physician and director of the family medicine section of the Department of Internal Medicine at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore. She has appeared on ABC News, written healthy advice articles and led workshops nationally. Her message of wellness has reached over 50,000 people and she can be found at http://www.jennifercaudle.com/.

ACE: Why is National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week important?

Dr. Caudle: This week is so important to recognize because we are learning just how common inhalant abuse is among young people. According to data from the National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUHs), 6.9% of 12 year olds have used an inhalant to get high. Interestingly, this makes inhalant abuse more common than the use of cigarettes, marijuana, cocaine and other drugs. This truly is a problem that needs to be addressed.

ACE: What role does the medical community have in increasing awareness about inhalants?

Dr. Caudle: It is important for the medical community to understand how common this problem is. Becoming educated is only part of the answer however, as we must also get involved in educating patients and parents about this problem. It is important to ask our patients about inhalant abuse just as we ask about other illicit drugs, alcohol and tobacco, and we need to become aware of the signs and symptoms of inhalant abuse.

ACE: What advice would you give to parents about protecting children from misusing household products?

Dr. Caudle: One of the most important things a parent can do is to talk with their children about their behavior and listen; an open dialogue is extremely important. It is also important to keep in mind that inhalants are often commonly found items found in the home; from hairspray to computer cleaners and paint thinners, inhalants are often easily obtained and inexpensive as well.

ACE: How can parents identify inhalant abuse?

Dr. Caudle: There are a wide range of symptoms that can appear with inhalant abuse. Some people will exhibit a change in mood, personality or behavior. Others may have changes in speech or movement. It is important to be aware of any unusual chemical smells on clothing which could signal chemical use. In addition, the effects of inhalant abuse can range from eye and nose irritation, nosebleeds and watery eyes, to heart, liver and kidney damage.

ACE: Where can someone find medical resources for treatment?

Dr. Caudle: I would start with the NIPC- National Inhalant Prevention Coalition at http://www.inhalants.org/ and SAMHSA- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services at http://oas.samhsa.gov/.

In addition to the resources listed above, you can find more information about inhalant abuse at http://www.inhalant.org/. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook

St. Patrick's Day & NIPAW

Have a happy and safe St. Patrick's Day from ACE! Also, don't forget we're in the midst of National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week (NIPAW), March 14^th -20^th. Every year, this week represents an opportunity to educate people about the dangers of inhalant abuse while supporting those who have been affected.

Though studies show use peaks in middle school, we realize persons of all ages are capable of abusing inhalants. Hard to believe? Please check out our message board to read personal stories, and general conversation going on around the issue.

We urge you to use NIPAW to raise awareness about inhalant abuse by holding special programs, town halls, or opening dialogue in your own home. If a specific school, business, community group or person in your area is recognizing NIPAW in any way, please email ACE at info@ConsumerEd.org and share what they are doing.

As we receive your stories and pictures, ACE will profile your community efforts on this blog!

Don't forget we have Inhalant Abuse Prevention Kits available in
English & Spanish, and available online for free downloading!

National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week

Today, marks the second day of National Inhalants and Prevention Awareness Week! This annual event presents organizations, school administrators and parents with a unique opportunity to educate communities about inhalants. Throughout the week, we will feature insight from a panel of experts who are increasing awareness around this silent habit. This year is particularly noteworthy as recent studies suggest a reversal in previously declining drug trends.

According a study conducted by the Partnership for a Drug Free America:
· 1 in 10 teens surveyed has misused inhalants within the past year.
· Teen attitudes about inhalant use have also changed. 66% of students, compared to 70% last year, believe inhalant use can result in death.
Click here for more information on the Partnership study.

According the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, 12-year olds are more likely to use inhalants than any other drugs except alcohol. Currently, more 12-year olds use inhalants than marijuana, cocaine, and hallucinogens (i.e. ecstasy) combined. Click here to see the report.

If you believe a child or loved one is misusing inhalants, use the SAMHSA service provider locator to find help in your area. Also visit www.inhalant.org to find more resources about inhalant abuse, detection, and effects.

National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week Press Conference

To launch National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week, the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition, with support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), held a press conference to focus on inhalant use and efforts by the medical profession to educate physicians. The widely-attended event brought together media, federal agencies, and those personally affected to bring attention this very important issue.

Pamela Hyde, SAMHSA Administrator, spoke poignantly about the recent upticks in drug use as a recent study showed a regression in adolescent attitudes about drug use. This trend, which is a harbinger of future drug use, is magnified when discussing inhalant abuse because many teens don’t think it is a ‘real’ drug. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, attitudes about drug abuse were have tumbled to 58% from 70% in earlier surveys.

Ms. Hyde noted that inhalant accessibility and ignorance about side effects contribute to the problem. Among 12-year olds nationwide inhalants are the drug of choice. Currently, alcohol is the only substance with higher user rates than inhalants.

Dr. Jennifer Caudle, of the American Osteopathic Association, intimated inhalant abuse is affecting the medical community as medical professionals have access to commonly abused gases, such as nitrous oxide. Additionally, there is little formal training about recognizing inhalant abuse allowing cases to go undiagnosed. In response, Dr. Caudle and the AOA are helping to create a support system and dialogue among medical practitioners to illuminate that areas need improvement.

The last two speakers shared personal accounts of how inhalant abuse affected their lives. Ashley, 17, and Kevin, a parent who lost his daughter to inhalants, offered poignant and intertwined reflections. The two are now learning how to live new lives of recovery and loss respectively.

We would especially like to thank Harvey Weiss, Executive Director of NIPC for organizing this annual event as it is emblematic of his steadfast efforts to combat inhalant abuse.

National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week

March 14th-20th, 2010 marks National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week (NIPAW). Every year, this week represents an opportunity to educate people about the dangers of inhalant abuse while supporting those who have been affected. Countless people are unaware of the dangers and fatalities associated with abusing household items for the purposes of “getting high”.

In a national survey, 22.3 million Americans claimed to have used inhalants at least once[1]. This year is particularly significant as studies show inhalant abuse is on the rise. According to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, one in five minors have abused inhalants prior to reaching 8th grade[2]! Often the trend continues silently because parents and relatives are unfamiliar with the symptoms that signal abuse.

Short term inhalant abuse can result in dizziness, loss of consciousness, severe mood swings, and headaches. Prolonged use can cause liver and kidney malfunctioning, loss of hearing, and irreparable central nervous system damage. Some people even die from a cardiac seizure, known as Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome, which can occur on the 1st or 100th misuse. For more information on effects of inhalant abuse, please click here.

What can you do?

During NIPAW, start a conversation at work or talk to a friend about inhalant abuse. In this week many communities around the nation hold special programs or write articles to raise awareness about inhalant abuse prevention. If you are planning an event, please contact me as we can add it to our blog and/or our community message board.

You can make a difference in your community and potentially save a life by educating yourself about this pressing issue! Please visit www.inhalant.org to check out our electronic Inhalant Abuse Prevention Kit and for more information on the issue.

Sources:
[1] http://www.drugabuse.gov/researchreports/inhalants/inhalants.html
[2] Inhalants - Special Report, Partnership for a Drug-Free America™, 2006