Topic:	Inhalant Abuse			Target Group: Middle School Students

Prepared By: Terry Jackson		Agency: Wheat Ridge Police Dept.

Address:  7500 W. 29th Ave.		Phone: (303) 235-2961
	   Wheat Ridge, CO 80215

________________________________________________________________________

Objectives:   
	The student will be able to: 
		(1)   Define inhalant abuse (huffing)
		(2)   Understand what it does to your body
		(3)   Understand how this act makes you feel
		(4)   Understand the consequences if caught

Introduction:   
	My name is Terry Jackson.  I have been a police officer at 
	Wheat Ridge Police Department for twenty five years.  
	Twenty years total on patrol, five years as an investigator 
	of sex/child victim crimes, bicycle officer, chief firearms 
	instructor, hostage negotiator team leader.  I am married 
	and recently accepted the position with the SEE Unit.  
	I am the SRO for Everitt Middle School.

Body:  
	I.	Definition of Inhalant Abuse
		A.	Intentional breathing of gas or vapors with 
			the purpose of getting high 
			1.	Inhalants are legal, everyday products 
				that have a useful purpose but can be 
				misused.

	II.	Some types of inhalants
		A.	Adhesives - airplane glue, rubber cement
		B.	Aerosols - spray paint, hair spray, fabric protector, 
			deodorant
		C.	Solvents and liquid gasses - nail polish remover, 
			paint thinner, correction fluid and thinner, toluene, 
			lighter fluid, gasoline.
		D.	Cleaning agents - spot remover, de-greaser, dry 
			cleaning fluid.
		E.	Food Products - cooking spray, canned whip cream.
		F.	Gases - helium, butane, propane, nitrous oxide.
		G.	Anesthetics - ether, chloroform
		H.	Nitrites - amyl nitrite (popper or snappers) butyl 
			nitrite
	III.	How does it make a person feel
		A.	Short term affects
			1.	Feel stimulation
			2.	Lowering of inhibitions
			3.	Similar to alcohol intoxication
			4.	Dizziness
			5.	Loss of consciousness
		B.	Long term affects
			1.	Anxiety
			2.	Excitability
			3.	Irritability
	IV.	What does it do to your body
		A.	Brain
			1.	Kills brain cells
		B.	Blood
			1. 	Blocks oxygen carrying capacity
		C.	Lung
			1.	Damage from repeated use of spray paint
		D.	Heart
			1.	Sudden sniffing death syndrome
				a.	Unexpected disturbance of the heart 
					rhythm that can be caused on the first, 
					tenth or one hundredth time you sniff
		E.	Liver
			1.	Damage
		F.	Kidneys
			1.	Impairs the ability to control acid in the 
				blood
			2.	Can cause kidney stones
		G.	Muscles
			1.	Loss of muscle tone
			2.	Loss of muscle strength
		H.	Bone Marrow
			1.	Benzene, a component of gas, has been 
				shown to cause leukemia
	V.	What happens if you get caught huffing
		A.	Trip to hospital
		B.	Trip to detox facility
		C.	Criminal charges
			1.	Up to $500 fine and/or 6 months in jail

Review:
	Now you know what huffing is.  You know that there are a lot of 
	things 	readily available.  If a person huffs, they may feel good 
	for a short time but they will have to repeat this frequently to 
	maintain the buzz.

Practice:
	Give a ten question multiple choice test.

Documentation and Sources:
	Colorado Revised Statutes/Police Officers Handbook 97/98
	National Inhalant Prevention Coalition