NATIONAL INHALANTS AND POISONS AWARENESS WEEK

NATIONAL INHALANTS AND POISONS AWARENESS WEEK

The third week in March is National Inhalant and Poisons Awareness Week. This prevention week focuses on providing education, resources, and information on risks of inhalant use. Almost every home in America has items in it that can be potentially poisonous or dangerous. Being aware of these dangers is important.

What are inhalants?

Although other misused materials can be inhaled, the term inhalants refer to the various substances that people typically take only by inhaling. These substances include:

• solvents (liquids that become gas at room temperature)

• aerosol sprays

• gases

• nitrites

One Hit of an Inhalant Can Cause:

• Nausea and disorientation

• Limb spasms

• Loss of consciousness and asphyxiation

• Death

Prolonged Inhalant Abuse Over a Lifetime Can Cause:

• Damage to the area of the brain that controls memory, making it difficult to impossible to learn new things and even carry on simple conversations

• Hearing loss

• Speech impediments

• Bone marrow injury and damage to the central nervous system

• Addiction

HOW TO OBSERVE #NIPAW #NPPW

Visit www.inhalants.org for more information. Join the conversation online. Use #NIPAW #NPPW, #PreventPoison, or #PoisonHelp to share on social media.

Contact your local poison control center to request educational materials and find out about poison prevention campaigns in your area.

NATIONAL INHALANT AND POISON AWARENESS WEEK HISTORY

The National Inhalant Prevention Coalition developed National Inhalant and Poison Awareness Week in 1992 to help increase prevention initiatives across the country.