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

current inhalant user is defined as a person who reported using inhalants
during the 12 months prior to being interviewed. A new consumer is
defined as an individual who used inhalants for the first time during the
12 months prior to the interview. The results from this survey show that
there were more female than male current and new users. Individuals 18
years <strong>of</strong> age or younger were found to have the highest number <strong>of</strong> current
and new users <strong>of</strong> any age category. Occupational status showed that the
percentage <strong>of</strong> inhalant users was similar for students, those who were
employed, and those in domestic situations. On the other hand, the
survey indicated that almost half <strong>of</strong> all new users were students, followed
by those who were employed and those in domestic situations.
Furthermore, the findings by economic status suggest that those in the
lowest socioeconomic levels have the highest percentage <strong>of</strong> current and
new users. Finally, the greatest number <strong>of</strong> current and new users were
found in cities with over 500,000 inhabitants (figures 2(a) and 2(b)).
Regression analysis <strong>of</strong> the data collected revealed that age accounted for
80 percent <strong>of</strong> the variance responsible for inhalant-using behavior
(table 8).
Patterns <strong>of</strong> <strong>Inhalant</strong> <strong>Abuse</strong>
Data collected from this survey measured frequency <strong>of</strong> use and age <strong>of</strong>
initiation <strong>of</strong> inhalant users. Subjects in the survey were classified as
“occasional” users if they had inhaled once during the past month,
“moderate” if they used from two to four times, and “heavy” if they
inhaled five or more times. Using this classification, it was determined
that 28.1 percent <strong>of</strong> the users were “heavy” users; 34.3 percent
“moderate” users, and 35.7 percent “occasional” users (table 9).
The average age for initiating inhalant abuse was 16.8 years <strong>of</strong> age with
no significant difference between males and females. Analysis <strong>of</strong> the
data regarding age <strong>of</strong> initiation to inhalant use suggests that among
current users there has been a decrease in the age <strong>of</strong> initiation from those
who started use at the preadolescent, adolescent, and early adulthood
years. This tendency was statistically significant for those current users
who initiated use between the ages <strong>of</strong> 12-17. Among previous inhalant
users there also was a slight reduction in the age <strong>of</strong> initiation, but only for
those who started their use after the age <strong>of</strong> 12. This reduction was
statistically significant for those previous inhalant users who started use
between the ages <strong>of</strong> 12-17 (see tables 10(a) and 10(b)).
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