Many kids start by using inhalants.

• Position: Drug Abuse

How do adolescents start using drugs? A report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Washington, D.C., found that 17.2% of youth ages 12-17 start using drugs by sniffing household products. These youngsters sniff products such as refrigerant from air conditioning units, aerosol computer cleaners, shoe polish, glue, air fresheners, hair sprays, nail polish, paint solvents, degreasers, gasoline, or lighter fluids.

Most parents are not aware that use of inhalants can cause "Sudden Sniffing Death"--immediate death due to cardiac arrest--or lead to addiction and other health risks. The study shows that, as starter drugs, marijuana, nonmedical use of prescription drugs, and inhalants are the top three choices.

The picture on inhalant use is mixed. Data from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Bethesda, Md., shows that, looking forward, youth in eighth grade see many fewer dangers in using inhalants. The perception of harmfulness in trying inhalants once or twice is at its lowest point among eighth-graders since they started being surveyed in 1991.

"Among youth, perception is reality. When they believe that inhalants use is neither risky nor unacceptable, use of inhalants increases," stresses Harvey Weiss, executive director of the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition, Chattanooga, Tenn. "If parents do not perceive the dangers and their children dismiss them, there will be more tragedy and more youngsters who die from Sudden Sniffing Death or become addicted to inhalants. While we cannot lock up...