June 9, 1999

Cocaine, marijuana or methamphetamines are the drugs most think of when they think of drug abuse.

But what about paint thinner, nail polish remover and household cleaners?

In today's Family Now report, Ruth Todd explains how drug abuse can happen right under your nose.

Parents may not be aware that some of the most lethal drugs may be lurking in the broom closet, under the kitchen sink and even in their own refrigerator.

Everyday household products are providing a cheap and easy way for kids to get high.

It's called huffing - breathing in the fumes of an aerosol or solvent placed in an almost closed container.

And experts worry that there seems to be no limit to what kids will try.

Barbara Insley Crouch, of the Poison Control Center, says, "We've gone through whipping cream. We've gone through paints. We've gone through glues. We've gone through gasoline. We've gone through fabric protectants and now, just air fresheners."

Experts say part of the problem is that the products are legal, easy to get and inexpensive.

"The products that kids are huffing and abusing are normal household products, so I think there's a sense that they're okay. That it's safe. It's legal. I can go buy it at the store," says Insley Crouch.

But studies show that even a short term high from these household products can lead to long-term consequences - liver and kidney damage, even permanent brain damage.

But there's something else parents - and the kids who are doing it - may not realize.

Huffing can kill, suddenly, even for those who sniff for the first time.

The National Inhalant Prevention Coalition says there's no way to control everything in the household, but wants parents to know the warning signs.

Some include--