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March 29, 2006

The NSDUH Report: Characteristics of Recent Adolescent Inhalant Initiates

Inhalant use (i.e., the deliberate inhalation of volatile substances to induce a psychoactive or mind-altering effect) is a serious problem among adolescents. Research suggests that inhalants are the third most widely used class of illicit drugs among adolescents. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) asks respondents aged 12 or older questions related to their use of inhalants during their lifetime and in the past year. Inhalants are defined as "liquids, sprays, and gases that people sniff or inhale to get high or to make them feel good." The categories of inhalants asked about in the survey are (a) amyl nitrite, "poppers," locker room deodorizers, or "rush"; (b) correction fluid, degreaser, or cleaning fluid; (c) gasoline or lighter fluid; (d) glue, shoe polish, or toluene; (e) halothane, ether, or other anesthetics; (f) lacquer thinner or other paint solvents; (g) lighter gases, such as butane or propane; (h) nitrous oxide or "whippets"; (i) spray paints; and (j) other aerosol sprays.

Posted by Gary Holden at March 29, 2006 9:42 AM