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Deputies: Lee County teen dies from "huffing"
By
Nicole Papageorge, WINK News
Story Created:
Dec 10, 2008 at 6:26 PM EST
Story Updated:
Dec 10, 2008 at 6:53 PM EST
COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. - Parents listen up! What looks like a common household product to you, may look very differently to children. That's because some kids are using them to get high.
"It goes right to the brain and the kids get addicted very quickly to it and they're playing Russian Roulette with their lives," says Dr. Maria Victoria Delgado from Drug Free Collier.
On Tuesday night, a Lee County teen died after deputies say she huffed a common household product. The girl's parents found the 15-year-old unresponsive, in the bathtub, with two empty cans of Dust-Off next to her.
There are numerous household products kids can huff; spray deodorant, spray dusters, body spray even whipped cream cans.
According to Inhalant.org, one in five children will abuse or huff common household products by 8th grade. But, we wanted to know just how difficult it is for kids to buy a product like dust-off. We went to three different stores in Collier County, Walmart, Staples and Target. All have policies against selling Dust-Off to kids under 18-years-old.
"They are carding for the dusters, but you know kids can get their hands on anything," says Dr. Delgado. "They can go into Home Depot and innocently buy a can of paint thinner."
So, as a parent what can you do? The first step is talk to your kids, then play detective.
"Parents and teachers they have to keep an eye on products that have at home and track them to see if they're disappearing too quickly," says Dr. Delgado. "Are there plastic bags in a child's room? Are there funny smells or stains on their clothes?"
The subject may be difficult, but Dr. Delgado says it's important to talk about this silent epidemic.
Some spray dusters are now adding in bitter tasting ingredients to stop misuse.