Police Department
1105 Prairie St
Conway, AR 72032
Phone: 450-6120
Fax: 450-6180
Office Hours
8:00am to 4:30pm
Chief
450-6126
Code
Enforcement
450-6191
COP Team
450-6126
Criminal Investigation
450-6130
Narcotics
450-6135
Project POPE
450-6170
Records
450-6137
Training
450-6139
Warrants
450-6138
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INHALANTS
What Parents Should Know
We carefully label and safely store many household products that are harmful or fatal if swallowed. But what about the hundreds of products—glue, paint, lighter fluid, fingernail polish, permanent markers, and anything in aerosol cans—that young people can sniff to get a rapid, dangerous "high?" It's easy to buy or find inhalants, and abuse is on the increase. In 1994, one in five eighth graders reported using inhalants at least once.
An inhalant "high" gives a feeling of well-being and reduces inhibitions, much like the effects of alcohol and other sedatives. Higher doses produce laughter and giddiness, feelings of floating, time and space distortions, and hallucinations.
Some signs of inhalant abuse:
• slow speech
• disorientation
• spots or sores around the mouth
• headaches and nausea
• a general drunken appearance
Make No Mistake–Inhalants Can Be Deadly
Some people die from heart failure or suffocation the first time they sniff to get high. Chronic abuse can cause severe, permanent brain damage.
Other side effects include breathing problems, heart palpitations, muscle weakness, abnormalities in liver and kidney function, chromosome damage, loss of appetite and weight, impaired judgment that can lead to confusion, panic, and violent behavior.
"Sniffing" is frequently a first step to such drugs as crack and heroin.
* Made available by The National Citizens' Crime Prevention Campaign, sponsored by the Crime Prevention Coalition.
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