A two year old study by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America says that huffing, or inhalant abuse is up 44-percent over the two prior years among sixth graders. Inhaling aerosol sprays, rubber cement, rubbing alcohol, glue, permanent markers, paint, butane, correction fluid, gasoline, Freon, Dust-Off, whipped cream and nail polish are just a few of the legal substances that children and young adults are using in increasing levels to get high.

New Jersey Assemblymen Douglas Fisher and John J. Burzichelli have introduced legislation to make the inhaling of euphoria-inducing chemicals illegal in that state. Fisher was inspired to spearhead the legislation when he had observed several 12 to 14-year olds on YouTube posting videos of themselves and their friends huffing for the entertainment of anyone who wanted to watch. The Assemblymen have since convinced YouTube to take down the videos.

Just a scan of the weekly news will show one that inhalant abuse is a real problem in this country. For instance, a mother inNaples, Florida is trying to get locks on air conditioning units to stop inhalant abuse. This is in reaction to the death of her 15-year-old who died from inhaling Freon.

Even more so than prescription drug addiction, inhalant abuse is the number one cause of teen drug addiction for 6^th to 8^th graders. A report from Human Toxicology states that 22-percent of those who try huffing, die on the first attempt. Another example this week is a teen from Vicksburg, Mississippi who was found dead of an accident involving the inhaling gasoline fumes. The youth was 14-years-old at the time of death.

And, in a less lethal case, a 22-year-old man was arrested in a Wal-Mart parking lot in Lebanon, Pennsylvania for huffing dust remover while sitting in his vehicle. When questioned, the man admitted that he had trouble giving up his addiction to alcohol and had turned to huffing instead.