Prevalence Survey of Inhalant Abuse

Abstract

Although there is a paucity of hard epidemiologic data on the prevalence of inhalant abuse, there is considerable anecdotal evidence that such abuse is continuing. Recently, we received repeated reports that one particular public housing project in Atlanta had high rates of inhalant abuse, and to assess the prevalence of such abuse in children 4 to 20 years old, we conducted a random household survey in 400 of the project's 1,140 units. In an attempt to get complete and reliable data, we chose and trained 10 residents as interviewers.

Fifty youngsters were identified as ever having used inhalants, representing a sample prevalence of approximately 4%. The typical sniffer was a male, age 15, in the 9th grade or currently out of school. Some sniffers, though, continued to use inhalants into their 20s. Not unexpectedly, sniffers were found to use alcohol and other drugs at greater rates than other children. Although the parents of sniffers often said that they recognized drug-related problems in their children, they seldom sought help. Nevertheless/most residents felt that a drug-counseling program should be established in the project to provide alternative recreational activities.