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12-year-olds more likely to use deadly inhalants than cigarettes or marijuana
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More 12-year-olds have used potentially lethal inhalants than have used marijuana, cocaine and hallucinogens combined, according to data released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Data from the 2006 to 2008 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health show a rate of lifetime inhalant use among 12-year-olds of 6.9%, compared with 5.1% for nonmedical use of prescription type drugs, 1.4% for marijuana use, 0.7% for use of hallucinogens and 0.1% for cocaine use.
The National Inhalant Prevention Coalition (NIPC) and SAMHSA kicked off National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week at a press conference featuring information and personal stories about the dangers of inhalant use or “huffing.”
One of the leading participants in this year’s event was the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), which represents more than 67,000 osteopathic physicians. The organization urged physicians to take continuing education programs designed to help enhance awareness of this risk to youth.
The AOA adopted a policy endorsing continuing medical education to enhance physician awareness of inhalation of volatile substances and to support campaigns to increase public awareness of the crisis. This policy was submitted by the American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians (ACOP), and resulted in the adoption of “Risky Behavior in the Pediatric Patients” as the theme of 2009-2010. The ACOP/AOA policy recognize that inhalation of volatile substances, is increasing in children 12 to 14 years of age.
OAS Data Spotlight: National Survey on Drug Use and Health. 2010.