Early Intervention to Curb Adolescent Inhalant Abuse

Newswise — Programs aimed at reducing inhalant abuse among American adolescents should target elementary school age children, according to a new study by researchers at RTI International and Columbia University.

The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Drug Abuse, suggests that adolescents who abuse inhalants likely represent a subgroup of troubled youth who would receive the most benefit from early intervention strategies.

In the study, researchers examined the prevalence and characteristics of inhalant use, abuse and dependence among 36,859 adolescents ages 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.

Of those surveyed, 9 percent " representing about 2 million adolescents nationwide " reported having used inhalants. Among those who reported using inhalants during the past year, 11 percent met criteria for abuse or dependence.

The most commonly used inhalants reported were glue, shoe polish and gasoline. Other inhalants used by the participants included nitrous oxide, lighter fluid, spray paints, correction fluid and paint solvents.

Although there were no gender differences in the prevalence of inhalant abuse or dependence, boys were more likely to have used gasoline or nitrous oxide, while girls favored glue, shoe polish, spray paints, correction fluid and aerosol sprays.

Among the study's significant findings:

- Adolescents who reported first use of inhalants at ages 13"14 were six times more likely to be dependent on inhalants than those who started using inhalants at ages 15"17.

- Adolescents with a history of foster care 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) were about four times more likely to be diagnosed with inhalant abuse and about nine times more likely to be diagnosed with inhalant dependence. "This study provides more evidence that early experimentation with inhalants may be a precursor for later drug abuse that grows to include abuse of multiple illegal substances," said Li-Tzy Wu, Sc.D., lead researcher at RTI International who directed the study. "We found that approximately 60 percent of the adolescents who reported using inhalants during the past year also reported the use of more than one type of inhalant."

"These findings suggest inhalant abuse and dependence in young people are associated with a host of co-occurring problems that may be influenced by family and other social factors," said NIDA Director Dr. Nora D. Volkow.

Volkow said the findings are troubling because inhalant use appears to be escalating. Data reported in NIDA's Monitoring the Future (MTF) study 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."

"There is a substantial risk of illness and death from inhalant abuse and dependence, so prevention programs should target children in elementary school," Volkow said. "In addition, the connection between inhalant use, foster care placement, and coexisting delinquent behaviors may be markers for young people who may be especially vulnerable to severe drug abuse and mental health problems." The study is published in the October 2004 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry .

About RTI InternationalRTI International is an independent nonprofit research organization dedicated to conducting research that improves the human condition. With a staff of more than 2,500 people, RTI offers innovative research and technical solutions to governments and businesses worldwide in the areas of health and pharmaceuticals, advanced technology, surveys and statistics, education and training, economic and social development, and the environment. For more information, please visit us at: www.rti.org.

About NIDAThis study was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse under contract number 1 R01 DA15935-01. 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 http://www.drugabuse.gov.