[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 24, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H3751-H3752]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     SUDDEN SNIFFING DEATH SYNDROME

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hooley) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. HOOLEY of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with my 
colleagues a story that was told to me by a mother in my community. 
Kathy Abel of Keizer, Oregon, was met at her doorstep by a police 
officer to inform her that her 18-year-old son was dead.
  Kathy's son James did not die in a car accident or a shooting. 
Kathy's son died at the hands of an everyday household product. Kathy's 
son died as a result of inhalant abuse.
  Kathy's son James was no different than most high school students. He 
was active in school, popular amongst his classmates, and on his way to 
starting his life as an adult.
  The death of this bright young man should never have happened. The 
young man that James was with should not know what it feels like to 
have his friend die in his arms, and James's family should not have 
known the hopeless, tragic feeling of hearing that their beloved son 
was dead.
  Most of us do not even know what inhalant abuse is, and too often we 
find out after it is too late. Inhalant abuse is the intentional 
breathing in of gas and vapors with the goal of getting high. Typical 
substances that are inhaled include gasoline, paint thinner, nail 
polish remover, typewriter correction fluid, butane and propane.

                              {time}  1830

  These products are typically household items that we all keep in our 
homes.
  In Oregon, a 1998 study showed that 20 percent of 8th graders have 
tried inhalants. That is one out of every five students. Scarier yet is 
the fact that children can often die after inhaling these substances 
only one time. Inhalants also serve as a gateway drug that can lead 
young people toward other forms of drug abuse.
  Let me explain the way inhalants affect the body. Inhalants produce 
an effect within seconds that may last from 15 to 45 minutes. They will 
generally act as central nervous system depressants. After an initial 
euphoria, a depressed state follows that can be accompanied by 
drowsiness or sleep. Inhalants lower breathing and heart rates and 
impair coordination and judgment. Dosages must be repeated to maintain 
intoxication.
  Inhalants can cause severe and permanent damage to the brain, liver, 
kidneys, and other organs. More than any substance, inhalants can cause 
sudden death resulting from heart arrhythmia and suffocation. Let me 
repeat that. More than any other substance, inhalants can cause Sudden 
Sniffing Death Syndrome. This means users can die the first time, the 
10th time, or the 100th time. No one really knows.
  Today my colleague the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Weldon) and I 
are introducing a bill that will allow grants to go for education 
programs to combat inhalant abuse. If passed, this legislation will 
bring much-needed attention to this very serious problem.
  It is never too early to teach our children about the dangers of 
inhalants. Inhalant use starts as early as elementary school. Parents 
often remain ignorant of inhalant use or do not educate their children 
until it is too late.
  Let me remind my colleagues, inhalants are not drugs. They are 
poisons and toxins and should be discussed as such.
  The Partnership for a Drug-Free America produced this ad in Monday's 
New York Times. It says, ``Every parent should take a drug test. Learn 
about inhalants. What you don't know may surprise you.''
  Mr. Speaker, I include the article for the Record:

                [From the New York Times, May 22, 2000]

                  Every Parent Should Take a Drug Test


      learn about inhalants. What you don't know may surprise you

       An alarming number of children across the country are using 
     household products to get high.
       If you're going to protect your kids, you'd better know 
     something about this problem.
       Here's a chance to test yourself. The answers are printed 
     below.

[[Page H3752]]

       1. How many substances found in the average home can make 
     you high if inhaled?
       a. 10-15
       b. More than 25
       c. More than 100
       d. More than 500
       e. More than 1,000
       2. By the eighth grade, how many kids have tried at least 
     one inhalant?
       a. One in a hundred
       b. One in fifty
       c. One in 25
       d. One in 5
       e. One in 2
       3. Which of the following can you use with an inhalant to 
     get high?
       a. A soda can
       b. A sock
       c. A plastic bag
       d. A balloon
       e. All of the above
       4. What is ``huffing?''
       a. Sucking on an aerosol can
       b. Blowing into a bag, then inhaling the fumes
       c. Inhaling a chemical by panting
       d. Putting a rag soaked with a chemical to your mouth and 
         inhaling the fumes
       e. Pouring a chemical directly into your mouth and 
         breathing the fumes
       5. What percentage of inhalants can be toxic?
       a. 10-15%
       b. 15-20%
       c. 25-50%
       d. 50-75%
       e. All of them
       6. A danger of inhaling chemical substances is:
       a. Brain damage
       b. Liver and Kidney damage
       c. Suffocation
       d. Death
       e. All of the above
       7. Of the inhalants that will make you ``high,'' how many 
     can cause permanent brain damage?
       a. One or two
       b. A dozen or so
       c. Almost a hundred
       d. Nearly all of them
       e. None of them
       8. Why do kids abuse inhalants?
       a. Products that can be sniffed to get high can be found in 
         every household
       b. They're inexpensive
       c. They're legal
       d. Users don't realize how dangerous they are
       e. All of the above
       9. What is SSD?
       a. Sweet Sniffing Dreams
       b. Sudden Sniffing Desire
       c. Sudden Sniffing Death
       d. Sure Sniffing Damage
       e. Shaky Sniffing Dancing
       10. The best approach to prevention with kids is:
       a. Threaten them--e.g. ``I'll break your neck if I ever 
         catch you using inhalants
       b. Talk with them, tell them how you feel about inhalants, 
         and warn them of the dangers
       c. Ignore the problem. What your kids don't know can't hurt 
         them
       d. Tell your kids you want them to talk with their guidance 
         counselor in school about inhalants
       e. Talk with the guidance counselor yourself and get his or 
         her advice

     Answers: 1(c); 2(d); 3(e); 4(d); 5(e); 6(e); 7(d); 8(e); 
     9(c); 10(b) or (e).

       You don't need to score 100% before you talk about this 
     problem with your kids.
       You simply have to let them know how you feel about the 
     problem and warn them of the dangers.
       Don't be put off if your words don't seem to register. What 
     does register is not so much what you say, but the fact you 
     care enough to be concerned. Kids have a name for this kind 
     of parental involvement. Love.
       A good first step is simply to clip this test and put it up 
     on your refrigerator.
       Your kids may make jokes about it. But they'll get it.
       For more information call, 1-800-729-6686.

  Many States, including Oregon, have begun a campaign to inform 
children and their parents about inhalant abuse. We must begin our own 
fight at the national level. The Senate recently passed identical 
legislation unanimously. It is time that we give this issue due credit 
in the House and begin this crusade to educate ourselves and our 
children about this terrible problem.

                          ____________________