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Inhalant Abuse

Inhalant Abuse
Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 5 to 6
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   7.46

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    all-important, hepatitis, liquor, mind-altering, propellants, marijuana, short-term, coordination, substance, abusers, anemia, cocaine, possibility, abuse, affected, therefore
     content words:    Sudden Sniffing Death

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Inhalant Abuse
By Jennifer Kenny 		  
1     When people think of substance abuse, their minds often race to serious drugs and alcohol. Interestingly enough, though, the first kind of substance children often abuse is an inhalant. Why? It is easy to get hold of a household chemical that can give them a quick high. However, it doesn't mean that inhalants are not dangerous.
 
2     What are inhalants? Inhalants are breathable chemical vapors. They are quite volatile. The vapors, when abused, are inhaled in order for the person to get a mind-altering effect.
 
3     There are many kinds of inhalants. They cover many kinds of chemicals. People have classified them in different ways over the years. One such way is: volatile solvents, aerosols, gases, and nitrites. Volatile solvents are easily available. They include paint thinners, paint removers, glues, felt tip markers, gasoline, and dry-cleaning fluids. They are liquids that vaporize at room temperatures. Aerosols are sprays. They contain propellants and solvents. They are found in spray paints, deodorants, hair sprays, vegetable oil sprays, and fabric protector sprays. Gases are medical anesthetics and gases used in things like laughing gas. Gases can be found in whipped cream dispensers and propane tanks. Finally, nitrites are found in video head cleaners, room odorizers, and leather cleaners.

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