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Are Drugs in Your Own Home? |
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Date: 2-28-12 Tips for parents to make sure their home is safe from inhalant use.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 2-27-12
Are Drugs in Your Own Home?
Logan, UT - If your teenager decides to experiment with drugs, their first high may not come from illicit drugs, such as cocaine or methamphetamine. It may be something completely unexpected: the White-out on your desk or the paint thinner in your utility closet.
Abuse of common household products, referred to as Inhalants, by teens and pre-teens has steadily increased since the 1980’s and are the highest substances abused by students in the 6th grade in Northern Utah and second highest among students in the 8th grade. “These products are more likely to be abused by kids in the 12-15 year age range group because they can easily get them at home or purchase them at any grocery store,” said Cathy Lloyd, Prevention Specialist for the Bear River Health Department.
There are more than 1000 household products that teens can use to get high. Some of these products include typewriter correction fluid, felt tip markers, spray paint, air freshener, butane, cooking spray, various types of glue, gasoline, deodorant spray, fabric protector spray, whipping cream aerosols, hair spray, and household cleaners. Not only are these items available in the home, teens can walk into any grocery store, hardware store, or pharmacy and purchase them with no questions asked. “It’s important for parents to monitor these products as well as many others in their home, in order to make sure that they are not being misused. That’s why we have provided the inhalant checklist on our website,” said Lloyd.
Parents can reduce their child’s risk for abusing Inhalants, by talking to their child about the risks associated with abusing these products and to monitor the use of the products in their home. To identify products that are commonly abused by youth in the home,log onto www.brhd.org for a checklist/survey. Completion of the checklist online before May 1, 2012, will also enter you into a drawing for $100 Gift Card.
To learn more about inhalant abuse through a web-based training program designed especially for parents and guardians, visit www.inhalantabusetraining.org.
Parents should also demonstrate and follow product usage guidelines and supervise children’s use of products. For tips on talking to your kids about inhalant abuse and products commonly inhaled, visit www.inhalant.org.
For more information about the inhalant checklist, visit www.brhd.org or call 435-792-6529.
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The mission of the Bear River Health Department is to prevent disease and disability, promote healthy lifestyles, and protect the individual and community
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