[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 27 (Monday, March 5, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S1828]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 43--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT THE 
PRESIDENT SHOULD DESIGNATE THE WEEK OF MARCH 18 THROUGH MARCH 24, 2001, 
          AS ``NATIONAL INHALANTS AND POISONS AWARENESS WEEK''

  Mr. MURKOWSKI (for himself, Mr. Daschle, and Mr. DeWine) submitted 
the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
Judiciary, as follows:

                               S. Res. 43

       Whereas the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition has 
     declared the week of March 18 through March 24, 2001, 
     ``National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week'';
       Whereas inhalant abuse is nearing epidemic proportions, 
     with almost 20 percent of young people admitting to 
     experimenting with inhalants before graduating from high 
     school;
       Whereas only 4 percent of parents suspect that their 
     children use inhalants;
       Whereas inhalants are the third most popular substance used 
     by youths through the eighth grade, behind only alcohol and 
     tobacco;
       Whereas 1,000 products can be inhaled to get high and those 
     products are legal, inexpensive, and found in nearly every 
     home and every corner market;
       Whereas using inhalants only once can lead to kidney 
     failure, brain damage, and even death;
       Whereas inhalants are considered a gateway drug, leading to 
     the use of harder, more deadly drugs;
       Whereas inhalant use is difficult to detect, the products 
     used are accessible and affordable, and abuse is common; and
       Whereas increased education of young people and parents 
     regarding the dangers of inhalants is an important step in 
     the battle against drug abuse: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,

     SECTION. 1. NATIONAL RESPONSE TO INHALANT USE.

       (a) Sense of the Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate 
     that--
       (1) the President should designate the week of March 18 
     through March 24, 2001, as ``National Inhalants and Poisons 
     Awareness Week''; and
       (2) parents should learn about the dangers of inhalant 
     abuse and discuss those dangers with their children.
       (b) Proclamation.--The Senate requests that the President 
     issue a proclamation--
       (1) designating the week of March 18 through March 24, 
     2001, as ``National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week''; 
     and
       (2) calling upon the people of the United States to observe 
     ``National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week'' with 
     appropriate ceremonies and activities.
  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, today Senators Daschle, DeWine and I 
rise to introduce a resolution that will help fight a silent epidemic 
among America's youth. This epidemic can leave young people permanently 
brain damaged or, worse, dead. It is called inhalant abuse.
  This resolution will designate the week of March 18 through March 24, 
2001, as ``National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week.''
  What exactly are inhalants? Inhalants are the intentional breathing 
of gas or vapors for the purpose of reaching a high. Over 1,400 common 
products can be abused, such as lighter fluid, pressurized whipped 
cream, hair spray, and gasoline, the abused product of choice in rural 
Alaska. These products are inexpensive, easily obtained and legal.
  An inhalant abuse counselor told me, ``If it smells like a chemical, 
it can be abused.''
  It's a ``silent epidemic'' because few adults really appreciate the 
severity of the problem: One in five students has tried inhalants by 
the time they reach the eighth grade; use of inhalants by children has 
nearly doubled in the last 10 years; and inhalants are the third most 
abused substances among teenagers, behind alcohol and tobacco.

  Inhalants are deadly. Inhalant vapors react with fatty tissues in the 
brain, literally dissolving them. One time use of inhalants can cause 
instant and permanent brain, heart, kidney, liver or other organ 
damage. The user can also suffer from instant heart failure known as 
``Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome,'' this means an abuser can die the 
first, tenth or hundredth time he or she uses an inhalant.
  In fact, according to a recent study by the Alaska Native Health 
Consortium, inhaling has a higher risk of ``instant death'' than any 
other abused substance.
  That's what happened to Theresa, an 18-year old who lived in rural 
Western Alaska. Theresa was inhaling gasoline; shortly thereafter, her 
heart stopped. She was found alone and outside in near zero 
temperatures. Theresa, who was the youngest of five children and just a 
month shy of graduation, was flown to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital where 
she was pronounced dead on arrival.
  Two years ago in Pennsylvania, a teenage driver, with four teenage 
passengers, lost control of her car in broad daylight. The car hit a 
tree with such impact that all passengers were killed. High levels of a 
chemical, found in computer keyboard cleaners, were found in the young 
driver's body. A medical examiner's report cited ``impairment due to 
inhalant abuse'' as the cause of the crash.
  Mr. Haviland, the principal of the high school where the five girls 
attended, said neither teachers nor school administrators ever 
suspected that students were involved with inhalants.
  Inhalants are considered a ``gateway'' to other illicit drug abuse. 
Because these products are legal, affordable and their abuse is hard to 
detect, awareness must be promoted among young people, parents and 
educators. We hope that a national week of awareness will encourage 
programs throughout the country, alerting parents and children to the 
dangers of inhalants.
  I ask my colleagues to support and cosponsor this resolution. This 
national tragedy can be prevented through education and awareness. 
Hopefully, this week of awareness will save a child's life, and end one 
of our nation's silent epidemics.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.

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