14.12.2012 Views

Epidemiology of Inhalant Abuse - Archives - National Institute on ...

Epidemiology of Inhalant Abuse - Archives - National Institute on ...

Epidemiology of Inhalant Abuse - Archives - National Institute on ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

CONCLUSION<br />

Unlike other drugs in the United States, there is no evidence that use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

inhalants is declining am<strong>on</strong>g young people. In fact, it has overtaken<br />

marijuana as the most likely first drug for youth. An accurate understanding<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the extent and nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the problem is hampered by methodological<br />

problems. These include the difficulty in defining inhalants precisely and<br />

the unusual sensitivity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> resp<strong>on</strong>ses to minor differences in survey questi<strong>on</strong>s<br />

about inhalant use. Males are more likely than females to use inhalants up<br />

through about the 6th grade and again after about the 10th grade. During the<br />

seventh to ninth grades, however, there are very small gender differences in<br />

inhalant use.<br />

One major factor c<strong>on</strong>tributing to inhalant use appears to be exposure to poor<br />

socioec<strong>on</strong>omic c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s within a given community. This factor likely<br />

accounts for reported ethnic differences in the rates <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> inhalant use, rather<br />

than any cultural or racial propensity to use inhalants. In additi<strong>on</strong> to<br />

socioec<strong>on</strong>omic distress, increased inhalant use seems to be associated with<br />

lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> success in school.<br />

The use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> inhalants differs from the use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> other drugs in a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

significant ways, with important implicati<strong>on</strong>s for preventi<strong>on</strong> and treatment<br />

programs. As the new gateway drug, it is critical that research and<br />

preventi<strong>on</strong> efforts pay special attenti<strong>on</strong> to the etiology <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> inhalant use.<br />

REFERENCES<br />

Beauvais, F. Comparis<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> drug use rates for reservati<strong>on</strong> Indian, n<strong>on</strong>reservati<strong>on</strong><br />

Indian and Anglo youth. Am Indian Alsk Native Ment Health<br />

Res 5:13-31, 1992a.<br />

Beauvais, F. Volatile solvent abuse: Trends and patterns. In: Sharp, C.W.;<br />

Beauvais, F.; and Spence, R., eds. <str<strong>on</strong>g>Inhalant</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Abuse</str<strong>on</strong>g>: A Volatile Research<br />

Agenda. <str<strong>on</strong>g>Nati<strong>on</strong>al</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Institute</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> Drug <str<strong>on</strong>g>Abuse</str<strong>on</strong>g> Research M<strong>on</strong>ograph 129.<br />

DHHS Pub. No. (ADM)93-3475. Washingt<strong>on</strong>, DC: Supt. <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Docs., U.S.<br />

Govt. Print. Off., 1992b. pp. 13-42.<br />

Beauvais, F., and Oetting, E.R. Toward a clear definiti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> inhalant abuse.<br />

Int J Addict 22:779-784, 1987.<br />

Chavez, E.L.; Edwards, R.W.; and Oetting, E.R. Mexican-American and<br />

white-American dropouts’ drug use, health status and involvement in<br />

violence. Public Health Rep 104:594-604, 1989.<br />

26

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!