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NIDA
Research Identifies Factors Related to Inhalant Abuse, Addiction
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
- September 30, 2004
New
research shows that young people who have been treated for mental
health problems, have a history of foster care, or who already abuse
other drugs have an increased risk of abusing or becoming dependent
on inhalants. In addition, adolescents who first begin using inhalants
at an early age are more likely to become dependent on them. The
study by Dr. Li-Tzy Wu and her colleagues is published in the October
2004 issue of the "Journal of the American Academy of Child and
Adolescent Psychiatry". The study was funded by the National Institute
on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department
of Health and Human Services.
The most commonly used inhalants reported by participants were glue,
shoe polish, and gasoline. Other inhalants used by the participants
included nitrous oxide, lighter fluid, spray paints, correction
fluid, and paint solvents. Boys were more likely to have ever used
gasoline or nitrous oxide, while girls favored glue, shoe polish,
spray paints, correction fluid, and aerosol sprays.
"These findings suggest inhalant abuse and addiction in young people
are associated with a host of co-occurring problems that may be
influenced by family and other social factors," says NIDA Director
Dr. Nora D. Volkow. "And, inhalant abuse may be escalating. Data
reported in NIDA's Monitoring the Future (MTF) Survey show that
past-year use of inhalants rose 14 percent from 2002 to 2003 --
the only increase of any substance reported by MTF between 2002
and 2003."
Dr. Wu and colleagues examined the prevalence and characteristics
of inhalant use, abuse, and dependence among 36,859 adolescents
aged 12-17 who participated in the 2000 and 2001 National Household
Surveys on Drug Abuse (recently renamed the National Survey on Drug
Use & Health) by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration. Approximately 9 percent of the survey participants
-- representing nearly 2 million adolescents nationwide - reported
having ever used inhalants in their lifetime. Among adolescents
who reported using inhalants during the past year, 11 percent met
the diagnostic criteria for abuse or dependence. There were no gender
differences in the prevalence of inhalant abuse or dependence.
Analysis of the accumulated data showed that:
- Adolescents who reported first use of
inhalants at age 13-14 were six times more likely to be dependent
on inhalants than those who started using inhalants at age 15-17;
- Adolescents with a history of foster
care placement were about five times more likely to become dependent
on inhalants than those never placed away from home;
- Adolescents who were treated for mental
health problems were more than two times as likely to be dependent
on inhalants;
- Adolescents who abused or were dependent
on two other drugs (such as cocaine/crack, marijuana/hashish,
heroin, hallucinogens, sedatives, tranquilizers, pain relievers,
and stimulants) also were likely to use inhalants; they were about
four times more likely to be diagnosed with inhalant abuse and
about nine times more likely to be diagnosed with inhalant dependence.
"Our
study provides more evidence that early use of inhalants may be
a precursor for later drug abuse that grows to include abuse of
multiple illegal substances," says Dr. Wu. "We found that approximately
60 percent of the adolescents who reported using inhalants during
the past year also reporting the use of more than one type of inhalant."
Adds Dr. Volkow: "Children and adolescents who abuse inhalants are
at substantial risk of illness and death so it is important for
prevention programs to target children when they are young. In addiction,
factors such as early inhalant use, foster care placement, and coexisting
mental illnesses may help identify young people who are especially
vulnerable to severe drug abuse and mental health problems."
The National Institute on Drug Abuse is a component of the National
Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
NIDA supports more than 85 percent of the world's research on the
health aspects of drug abuse and addiction. The Institute carries
out a large variety of programs to ensure the rapid dissemination
of research information and its implementation in policy and practice.
Fact sheets on the health effects of drugs of abuse and information
on NIDA research and other activities can be found on the NIDA home
page at www.drugabuse.gov .
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