With all parents have to worry about with their kids, who would have thought that household products would be one of them. Yet kids, sometimes as young as nine or ten, are getting high by using common items found around the house when they sniff (through the nose) or huff them (through the mouth). Airplane glue, rubber cement, paint thinner, nail polish remover, and bleach are just a few chemicals that become "inhalants" when they are used to get high.

Inhalants, often called kids' drugs, are almost as prevalent as marijuana use among eighth graders. Because the products are legal, inexpensive, and readily available, kids often think sniffing them is harmless. But inhalants are dangerous on many levels.

Using inhalants even one time—whether it's the first time or the 10th—can cause hallucinations, suffocation, or death. "Sudden Sniffing Death" can occur during or right after sniffing, when inhaled chemicals create irregular heartbeats and lead to heart failure. Inhalants can also cause death by suffocation when fumes replace oxygen in the lungs. Although many products can be inhaled, nearly all have the same effects—giddiness, grogginess and intoxication. Using them over a long period of time can cause headaches, muscle weakness, abdominal pain, nausea, nosebleeds, hepatitis, violent behavior, irregular heartbeat, and brain damage.

Today, nearly 20 percent of all adolescents report using inhalants at least once in their lives. During the eighth annual "National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week," March 18-24, parents are urged to learn about the dangers of inhalants. Signs and symptoms that their kids may be using inhalants include unusual breath odor, slurred speech, "drunk" appearance, red eyes or nose, or loss of appetite. As evidence of inhalant use, parents should also look for chemical-soaked rags, bags, or socks, paint or stain marks on face, fingers, or clothing.

What can parents do about the growing problem of inhalants? Place household products in a safe place and clearly mark them as "poison." And talk to your kids about inhalants and other drugs, soon and often. For ways to help you talk to your kids about drugs, visit the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign's Web site, www.theantidrug.com. The site also allows parents to download a brochure entitled "Parenting Skills: 21 Tips and Ideas to Help You Make a Difference." This brochure can also be ordered by calling 1-800-788-2800.