Epidemiology of Inhalant Abuse - Archives - National Institute on ...
Epidemiology of Inhalant Abuse - Archives - National Institute on ...
Epidemiology of Inhalant Abuse - Archives - National Institute on ...
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6. An Envir<strong>on</strong>mental Protecti<strong>on</strong> Agency (EPA) regulati<strong>on</strong> requiring use<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> CFCs to be phased out for envir<strong>on</strong>mental reas<strong>on</strong>s; since <strong>on</strong>e fabric<br />
waterpro<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ing product was reformulated, deaths from abuse have<br />
reportedly declined.<br />
For some <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> these acti<strong>on</strong>s, there is anecdotal evidence that deaths and<br />
injuries from abuse <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> these products declined. However, it is unknown<br />
what impact these limited acti<strong>on</strong>s have had <strong>on</strong> the rate <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> abuse <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
inhalants in general since there are so many products with abuse potential<br />
<strong>on</strong> the market, and abusers readily can switch products. Furthermore,<br />
there appear to be no studies <strong>on</strong> the impact <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> these specific productoriented<br />
acti<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
Many <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the products that are abused fall under the purview <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the CPSC.<br />
It has been argued that the CPSC currently has the authority to ban or<br />
require reformulati<strong>on</strong> or labeling <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> products found to present safety<br />
risks. However, the CPSC has articulated the legal opini<strong>on</strong> that its<br />
authorizing legislati<strong>on</strong> pertains to product safety when used “as directed”<br />
and under “reas<strong>on</strong>ably foreseeable handling or use.” The latter term is<br />
interpreted to exclude deliberate misuse <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> products for psychoactive<br />
purposes.<br />
Federal legislati<strong>on</strong> probably could be enacted that would ban or set<br />
c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong> limits <strong>on</strong> the use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> specific abusable substances in<br />
products or classes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> products. There are several major precedents, For<br />
example, use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> CFCs as a class <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> chemicals has been banned under the<br />
Envir<strong>on</strong>mental Protecti<strong>on</strong> Act due to their impact <strong>on</strong> the envir<strong>on</strong>ment.<br />
The Occupati<strong>on</strong>al Safety and Health Act provides authority under which<br />
pers<strong>on</strong>al exposure limits have been set for use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> toxic substances in the<br />
workplace (including a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> products abused as inhalants). The<br />
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act forbids food from being sold that c<strong>on</strong>tains<br />
any detectable c<strong>on</strong>centrati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a substance found to be carcinogenic.<br />
The argument against product-oriented regulati<strong>on</strong> to change products are<br />
that the costs <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> such an approach are much greater than the potential<br />
benefits. Firstly, <strong>on</strong>ly a tiny fracti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> these products are abused, and<br />
the measured c<strong>on</strong>sequences <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> abuse appear to be small. Sec<strong>on</strong>dly, the<br />
costs <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> reformulating products and decreased product functi<strong>on</strong>ality in<br />
use may be substantial. Development <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> new products could become<br />
more expensive and slowed substantially. Finally, major resources would<br />
be required to enforce the regulati<strong>on</strong>s since there are so many substances<br />
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