[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 99 (Wednesday, July 22, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8787-S8788]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, today with 12 of my colleagues, 
including our distinguished Majority and Minority Leaders, I submit an 
important resolution that affects the health and safety of all of our 
children. My resolution would designate October 15th, 1998 as National 
Inhalant Abuse Awareness Day.
  What is inhalant abuse? Many of you may know it as ``sniffing'' 
addiction. At alarmingly high rates, today's young people are using 
common household products to get high. In my state of Alaska alone, 22% 
of the high school and 19% of middle school students admit to 
experimenting with inhalants. 21% of students nationally will have 
tried inhalants by the time they graduate from high school.
  Inhalant abusers often start in elementary school, as young as 7 
years old. In Alaska, there is even a report of a three year old using 
inhalants, having probably been taught to do so from an older sibling. 
Inhalant abusers are both male and female and cut across all socio-
economic backgrounds. It is a national epidemic which affects all of 
our communities.

[[Page S8788]]

  Inhalant abuse is so prevalent because of the availability and 
affordability of the products. The over 1,000 products being abused 
include nail and furniture polish, markers, whip cream aerosols, glue, 
gasoline, and air fresheners. These products are available in every 
home across the country and are sold for only a few dollars in every 
corner market. Unlike other substances young people abuse--alcohol, 
cigarettes, and harder drugs like cocaine, marijuana and heroin--these 
are perfectly legal products and harmless if used according to the 
directions.
  All of us have these products in our homes and at some point, we have 
all asked our children to follow those directions and polish the living 
room furniture or fix a broken dish. But how many of us knew these 
items, which we so casually use, could someday kill our children? 
According to a recent study, only four percent of parents suspected 
their children of inhaling when in fact, 21% of them have.
  With the products accessible and cheap, how do we stop the abuse 
without more laws? Congress can't just enact another law this time, we 
can't outlaw furniture polish or gasoline. Instead, I strongly believe 
the solution lies within our communities and our families. We, as 
community leaders, parents, and grandparents, should make a concerted 
effort to involve young people in other activities--teach them a trade 
or give them a summer job. I suggest that families pray together and 
eat their meals together. Children who have loving supportive homes and 
who are involved in a job or their community are less likely to be 
enticed by drugs, including inhalants.
  We can also provide information. Inhalant abuse could be reduced if 
parents knew what symptoms they should be looking for. The warning 
signs for abuse include: unusual breath odor, chemical odor on 
clothing, a drunk or dazed appearance, hand tremors, red or runny nose 
and eyes, spots or sores around the mouth and anxiety and restlessness.
  A sudden drop in grades and school attendance can also be an 
indication of drug abuse.
  Most importantly, teenagers and children need to be told over and 
over again that even one try, one sniff, can kill. What they may view 
as simple experimentation can kill them. If they don't die from 
inhalant abuse, they may be left with permanent brain, liver and kidney 
damage.
  I hope that on October 15th, my colleagues in the Senate will join me 
in a nationwide conversation about inhalant abuse. Together, as 
community leaders, parents, and concerned citizens, we can educate 
parents and young people while encouraging community and family 
oriented solutions to drug abuse. 

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