Every year, young people are injured and some die after getting high by inhaling common household products. Many parents aren't even aware that their children are getting high with these potentially deadly products.

Sniffing or "huffing" inhalants can cause a number of health problems, from headaches or dizziness in the short term to long-term memory loss, organ or bone marrow damage. In some cases it can lead to death.

New research shows that prevention efforts are beginning to make an impact. But inhalant use among young people remains unacceptably high.The 2000 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse reveals a decrease in use among youth age 12-17, but finds that 9 percent of young people in that age range have tried inhalants.

Moreover, although most parents say they have talked to their children about drugs, only half have spoken with their kids specifically about inhalants, according to the 1999 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study.

During the tenth annual National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week (NIPAW) in March, the Campaign focused on educating parents and other adult-influencers about the dangers of inhalant abuse. In partnership with the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition, the Campaign developed special promotional materials and online resources with general information on inhalants, signs of abuse and facts about the health dangers posed by inhalants.