[MSS News] FWD: Inhalant Abuse message From Nurse

[Michael Bessette]

>INHALANTS IN YOUR HOUSE
>
>National Inhalants & Poisons Awareness Week is March 19-25, 2006. Many
>parents don't think to monitor the levels of everyday household products,
>but inhalant use has grown in popularity among teens. These substances are
>legal, inexpensive, accessible and a quick high. In fact, according the
>National Survey on Drug Use and Health, inhalants are the third most abused
>substance among 14 to 15 year olds.
>
>Do you know what qualifies as an inhalant? Items such as glue, nail polish
>remover, spray paints and air fresheners are in the bathroom cabinets,
>under the kitchen sink and elsewhere throughout your home. Visit
>TheAntiDrug.com's "Inhalants House" to learn more:
>http://www.theantidrug.com/drug_info/drug_info_inhalants_home.asp
>
>TIP: GET INFORMED ABOUT "HUFFING"
>
>Inhalant use is like playing Russian Roulette. One "huffing" episode may
>result in some nausea while a second episode may be deadly. It's important,
>as a parent, that you are informed about inhalants so you can talk to your
>teen about the dangers. Following are some specific things you can do to
>keep your teen safe from inhalants:
>
>1.  MONITOR THE LEVELS of everyday household products. Next time you're
>cleaning, take stock of all solvents, gases and nitrites in your home, such
>as paint, cooking spray and whipping cream aerosols. It can be as easy as
>using an ink pen to mark the bottle.  Read more:
>http://www.theantidrug.com/drug_info/drug_info_inhalants.asp
>
>2.  LEARN THE WARNING SIGNS and health effects. Inhalants are toxic,
>volatile substances. There are tell-tale signs, such as a chemical odors on
>breath and clothes, nose bleeds, slurred speech and disorientation that can
>alert you if your teen is using. Read more:
>http://www.theantidrug.com/drug_info/drug_info_inhalants_quickfacts.asp
>
>3.  TALK TO YOUR TEEN about the health effects. Communication is the best
>form of prevention. Learn about the long and short term effects of inhalant
>use and impress upon your teen how dangerous these substances are to their
>health.
>Learn the side effects:
>http://www.theantidrug.com/drug_info/drug_info_inhalants.asp
>
>Learn communication strategies:
>http://www.theantidrug.com/advice/advice_communicate.asp
>
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>NEWS
>Study: White Kids More Likely to Abuse Inhalants
>Kids who try to get high by sniffing glue, lighter fluid and other
>chemicals are more likely to be white and come from families that make more
>than double the poverty level, according to a federal study.
>Read more by visiting: http://www.theantidrug.com/news/index.aspx
>
>DRUG INFORMATION
>What are inhalants and why are teens experimenting with these dangerous
>chemicals?
>Read more:
>http://www.theantidrug.com/drug_info/drug_info_inhalants_quickfacts.asp
>
>CONVERSATION STARTERS
>Starting a Conversation About Risk-Taking
>Experimenting with inhalants is a dangerous, but growing, activity among
>teens. Make it a point to talk with your teen about the severe risks.
>Learn more: http://www.theantidrug.com/advice/two.asp
>
>FREE RESOURCES
>Looking for FREE anti-drug information? Check out all TheAntiDrug.com's
>Campaign Resources here: http://www.theantidrug.com/news/get-resources.aspx
>
>GET INVOLVED
>Find Help & Local Resources
>Locate the drug and alcohol abuse treatment programs nearest you or call
>1-800-788-2800 for informational materials.
>Visit here: http://www.theantidrug.com/ei/facility_locator.asp
>
>FEATURED PARTNER
>National Inhalants Prevention Coalition http://www.inhalants.org/nipaw.htm
>
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>~~~
>
>Encourage other parents to subscribe to this newsletter. Anyone can join
>the list by visiting TheAntiDrug.com and entering an e-mail address on the
>home page.  You have registered to receive biweekly e-mail notifications
>with parenting tips and strategies you can use to ensure that your child
>remains healthy and drug-free. Remember, when it comes to keeping kids
drug-free, YOU MATTER.
-- 
******************************
Michael A. Bessette
Principal, Maple Street School
194 Maple Street
Contoocook, NH 03229

(603) 746-4195