Pubdate: Fri, 24 Mar 2006
Source: Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ)
Copyright: 2006 The Arizona Republic
Contact:  http://www.arizonarepublic.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/24
Author: Shelly Mowrey

A DRUG PROBLEM UNDER KIDS' NOSES

Parents, there is something right under your nose that your child
could be abusing to get high.

According to the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, inhalant use is
up, with one out of 10 students in eighth to 10th grade saying he or
she has used an inhalant to get high. These inhalants are as close as
the kitchen sink or your child's classroom.

This is National Inhalant Prevention Week, and now is a perfect time
to talk with your child.

There are more than 1,000 abusable products that kids are using to get
high. These include butane, propane, typewriter correction fluid, shoe
polish, spray paint, computer cleaner, air freshener and cooking
spray. Inhalant use is considered a "gateway drug," a kid's first form
of substance abuse before graduating to other drugs.

Research shows that talking to your kids does make a difference. Kids
who learn a lot about the risks of drugs from their parents are half
as likely to use. Take the time to talk to your kids about inhalants
and other dangerous drugs.

The Partnership for a Drug-Free America, Arizona Chapter has a wide
variety of information to help start this conversation. Visit the Web
site at http://www.drugfree.org/AZ.

The site provides tools and resources about how to talk with kids
about drugs, best practices in prevention, what signs of trouble to be
looking for, and what to do if a child is in trouble with drugs.

Shelly Mowrey

Scottsdale

The writer is program and marketing director of Partnership for a Drug-Free
America, Arizona Chapter.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin