What's so dangerous about a can of spray paint? Plenty. Spray paint, along with other common household products, has become a drug of choice for an increasing number of children and teens looking for a quick "high." This phenomenon is known as inhalant abuse.

Inhalants are commonly available, inexpensive and legal. Kids can walk into any grocery store, hardware store or pharmacy and pick them off the shelf. They can easily conceal the products in their jackets, backpacks, closets or dresser drawers.

Do you know all that you need to know about inhalant abuse? Explore the dangers of this substance abuse problem and learn how to protect your child.

Inhalants are breathable chemical vapors that can produce a quick, powerful high, usually by depressing the central nervous system. Spray paints, glues and cleaning fluids are common sources. Kids who abuse inhalants "sniff" them via the nose or mouth, either by snorting fumes from containers or spraying aerosols directly into the nose or mouth. Kids may also "huff" these products, soaking rags in inhalants and pressing the rags to their mouths. Another method is "bagging," which includes inhaling fumes from chemicals poured into plastic or paper bags.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 1,000 types of inhalants are commonly abused. Some of the most popular include:

• Gasoline
• Paint thinners or removers
• Glues and adhesives
• Spray paint
• Hair spray
• Deodorant spray
• Lighter fluid
• Propane gas
• Nail polish remover
• Marking pens
• Household cleaners
• Fabric protector spray
• Correction fluids, such as Wite-Out and Liquid Paper
• Whipping cream aerosols

Inhalant abuse can start in elementary school and continue throughout adolescence. Kids view it as a cheap and accessible alternative to alcohol.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the number of new inhalant users increased from 627,000 in 1994 to 1.2 million in 2000. In 2002, inhalant abuse among high-school seniors hit a 20-year low. At the same time, however, larger numbers of younger kids reported using inhalants, with rates of abuse higher among eighth-graders than among 10th-graders or high-school seniors.

Kids who abuse inhalants often look and act as if they're intoxicated from drinking alcohol. Immediate manifestations may include:

• Excitation followed by drowsiness
• Lightheadedness
• Dizziness
• Loss of inhibitions
• Slurred speech
• Inability to control movements
• Euphoria
• Hallucinations or delusions
• Agitation

To prolong the high, many inhalant abusers continue to sniff, or huff, repeatedly over several hours. This can lead to loss of consciousness and even death. At the very least, it results in more-intense signs and symptoms of intoxication.

Chronic inhalant abuse carries health additional risks. These may include:

• Addiction
• Weight loss
• Muscle weakness
• Disorientation
• Inattentiveness
• Lack of coordination
• Irritability
• Depression

Other possible effects include:

• Hearing loss
• Peripheral neuropathy or limb spasms
• Brain damage
• Bone marrow damage
• Liver damage
• Kidney damage
• Blood oxygen depletion

Some of these effects are reversible, but many are not. In rare circumstances, inhalant abuse even causes "sudden sniffing death." The inhalant causes the heart to begin working too hard, resulting in a rapid, irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) that leads to cardiac arrest. This can happen even to first-time inhalant abusers. Sudden sniffing death is particularly associated with abuse of butane, propane and chemicals in aerosols. Inhalant abuse also can cause death by suffocation, asphyxiation or choking.

Sometimes, death from inhalant abuse occurs indirectly. For instance, teenagers may sniff inhalants, get behind the wheel and end up in a fatal car crash.

Preventing inhalant abuse starts with spotting evidence of the problem. The Consumer Product Safety Commission suggests the following as possible signs of abuse:

• Unusual breath odor or chemical odor on clothing
• Slurred or disoriented speech
• Drunk, dazed or dizzy appearance
• Signs of paint or other products where they wouldn't normally be, such as on the individual's face or fingers
• Red or runny eyes or nose
• Spots or sores around the mouth
• Nausea or loss of appetite
• Anxiety, excitability or restlessness
• Inattentiveness, lack of coordination, irritability and depression
• Sitting with a pen or marker near the nose
• Constantly sniffing at clothing sleeves
• Hiding rags, clothes or empty containers of abusable products in closets and other places

As a parent, your stand on any form of chemical use makes a difference. Tell your children about the risks. Relate the facts clearly, emphasizing that inhalants are deadly chemicals and poisons, not drugs. Let them know you won't tolerate inhalant abuse.

If you discover your child abusing inhalants, try to determine whether the incident represents one-time experimentation or a more persistent problem. Repeated inhalant abuse may be a sign of anxiety, depression or dysfunction at home, at school, or both. If this is the case, seek help from your child's doctor or a mental health professional.

Also make sure that your child's doctor, teachers, counselors and coaches know about inhalant abuse so that they can reinforce the message about its danger and recognize potential signs of trouble. Open discussion can prevent a tragedy. If awareness of the problem is low in your community, consider launching an inhalant prevention campaign. Involve everyone: the media, law enforcement, churches, schools and civic organizations.

If you suspect that your child is abusing inhalants, seek professional help. Contact your child's doctor or your local drug rehabilitation facility. If you hit a dead end, the National Drug and Treatment Referral Routing Service offers a list of treatment services in your community. Call (800) 662-HELP, or (800) 662-4357. The National Inhalant Prevention Coalition is another resource. Call (800) 269-4237.