Why does huffing kill

Freon found in air conditioners was the inhalant of choice for Amber Suri Talley, a year old from Lexington, N. She had been using for approximately six months when one hit stopped her heart -- she was later found dead from cardiac arrest and asphyxiation, the garbage bag used to keep in the fumes still covering her face. This sudden and tragic death, known as Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome, can occur even with a teen's first time sniffing.

We knew something was up, but we couldn't pinpoint it," Amber's father, Kevin Talley, said. Since Amber died in February , Talley has become an advocate for making parents more aware of the dangers of sniffing and he is scheduled to share Amber's story at the event today. Kids today are getting creative, they're not using the traditional drug outlet," Talley said. One in five students in the United States has used an inhalant to get high by the time he or she reaches eighth grade, according to the NIPC.

Sniffing is particularly popular in younger teens because it is so readily available. Markers, whip cream cans, glues, spray paint, air fresheners and butane cooking spray are just a few of the more than a thousand products that can be used to get high by sniffing.

Children can die the first time, or any time, they try an inhalant. This is known as Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome, which is usually associated with cardiac arrest. The inhalant causes the heart to beat rapidly and erratically, resulting in the heart attack.

While Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome can occur with many types of inhalants, it is particularly associated with the abuse of air conditioning coolant, butane, propane, and the chemicals in some aerosol products. While his heart activity appeared to return to normal, his brain activity never did, the doctors report. For nine days, abnormal brain readings and visible jerking indicated continuing epileptic seizures.

That led to irreparable brain damage. After the brain damage the patient did not have enough brain function to sustain life. While the Dutch authors suggest that inhalant abuse is confined to troubled kids, Dr. Andrew Stolbach believes that in the U. Inhaling can cause headaches, nausea and vomiting.

Users can be moody and aggressive or think that they see things that are not there. Stronger chemicals or repeated inhaling can cause people to pass out. Over time, inhalants can cause serious and permanent damage to vital organs like the brain, kidneys, heart and liver. Inhalants exit the body mainly through exhaling. Someone who is using inhalants often has breath that smells like chemicals.

Inhalants also pass out of the body through urine. It can take as long as two weeks for the body to get rid of all the chemicals.

Last updated: November Inhalant abuse: What parents should know What is inhalant abuse? What are some examples of inhalants? Some of the common terms for inhalant abuse refer to the way or the type of products that are used: Sniffing: directly inhaling the fumes through the nose.