California Takes on Inhalant Abuse

n California, there's a renewed emphasis on the dangers of inhalants among middle school age children.

The Los Angeles Times reports that the California Assembly is working on a bill to limit the sales of small canisters. In Los Angeles and elsewhere, there have been reports of children as young as 11 and 12 who have passed out from using inhalants of nitrous oxide. It's considered a gateway drug; the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration said that 12- and 13-year-olds abuse inhalants more than they abuse marijuana.

Unfortunately, it's been an issue here in Marshall County as well. Two Ohio men were arrested in the spring in Moundsville on inhalant-abuse related charges. Back then, the Marshall County Anti-Drug Coalition and the Marshall County Family Resource Network introduced a media campaign through the local newspapers and our Website about the dangers of inhalants and what parents could do to look for signs of that type of abuse.

Inhalant abuse can be deadly. It's so dangerous that three out of 10 inhalant-related deaths occur on first time use. West Virginia has the highest rate among the 50 states of high school students who reported using inhalants at least once (20.4%). It's a misdemeanor offense here.