Ramsey Resident - 2005 - March/April

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IRATIONAL INHALANTS &s~)_ ~~. - POISONS ."- A WARENESS WEE~.'- " ", MARCH 20 - 26, 2005 One in five students in America has used an inhalant to get high by the time he or she reaches the eighth gr~de. Parents often don't lmow that inhalants - cheap, legal and accessIble products - are as popular among middle school studen:s as marijuana. Even fewer are aware of the deadly effects the pOIsons in these products have on the brain and body when they are inhal~d or "huffed." It's like playing Russian Roulette. The user can dIe the 1 st, 10th or 100th time a product is misused as an inhalant. They're allover your house. They're in your child's school. In fact, you probably picked some up the last time you went to the grocery store. Educate yourself. Find out about inhalants before your children do. Most parents are unaware of the popularity and dangers of inhalant use. But children are quicl(ly discovering that common household products are inexpensive to obtain, easy to hide and the easiest way to get high. According to national surveys, inhaling dangerous products is becoming one of the most widespread problems in the country. It is as popular as marijuana wit~ yo~ng people. More than a million people used inhalants to get hI~hJust last year. By the time a student reaches the 8th grade, one In five will have used inhalants. What is inhalant use? Inhalant use refers to the intentional breathing of gas or vapors with the purpose of reaching a high. Inhalants are legal, everyday products which have a useful purpose, but can be misused. You're probably familiar with many of these substances - paint, glue and others. But you probably don't lmow that there are more than 1,000 products that are very dangerous when inhaled - things like typewriter correction fluid, air-conditioning refrigerant, felt tip marl(ers, spray paint, air freshener, butane and even cool(ing spray. Who is at risk? Inhalants are an equal opportunity method of substance abuse. Statistics show that young, white males have the highest usage rates. Hispanic and American Indian populations also show high rates of usage. What can inhalants do to the body? Nearly all abused products produce effects similar to anesthetics, which slow down the body's function. Varying upon level of dosage, the user can experience slight stimulation, feeling of less inhibition or l~ss of consciousness. The user can also suffer from Sudden SnIffing Death Syndrome. This means the user can die the 1st, 10th or 100th time he or she uses an inhalant. Other effects include damage to the heart, l(idney, brain, liver, bone marrow and other organs. What can I do if someone I know is huffing and appears in a state of crisis? If someone you lmow is huffing, the best thing to do is remain calm and seel( help. Agitation may '1 cause the huffer to become violent, experience hallucinations or suffer heart dysfunction which can cause Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome. Mal(e sure the room is well ventilated and call 911. If the person is not breathing, administer CPR. Once recovered, seek professional treatment and counseling. If you or someone you lmow is seeking help for inhalant abuse, you can contact the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition at 1-800-269-4237 for information on treatment centers and general information on inhalants. What should I tell my child or students about inhalants? It is never too early to teach your children about the dangers of inhalants. Don't just say "not my l(id." Inhalant use starts as early as elementary school and is considered a gateway to further substance abuse. Parents often remain unaware of inhalant use or do not educate their children until it is too late. Inhalants are not drugs. They are poisons and toxins and should be discussed as such. For age appropriate guidelines that can be useful when educating your children see www.inhalants.org/teacher.htm. (Source: www.inhalants.org) RAMSEY SENIORS The Ramsey Seniors met in December and enjoyed a Christmas party and program - put on by the Seniors! Gifts for Toys for Tots were collected, plus the Ramsey Lions donated a check in the name of Ramsey Seniors. The club officers will remain the same as last year. We will continue to meet the first Wednesday of every month, with a pot lucl( lunch at noon at Ramsey City Hall. The Ramsey Women of Today came to do Bingo for us for the month of February. Everyone had a good time. The March meeting will be held on the 2nd, with games following the meal. Bring your games, such as cards, Scrabble, etc. Highlights of upcoming meetings are as follows: Maxine Larson will be on hand to sing and play guitar in April and Darby Nelson will present slides of Alaska at the May meeting. Thanl(s to all who worl( and attend the meetings to help the Ramsey Seniors Club stay active. All seniors are welcome. Zola Malamen, President Did you know - Al Capone's business card said he was a used furniture dealer.