Inhalant Abuse

Wisconsin Mom Huffing in the Restroom While Son Cries

noreply@blogger.com (ACE News) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:06:00 +0000

Via WQOW in Wisconsin:

Police responded to a Wal-Mart after customers complained about a 3 year old crying in the store’s restroom. The boy was saying there was something wrong with his mom so a customer checked the stall and found his mother huffing from an aerosol can.

The woman was unresponsive but when she came to, she stormed out of the restroom into the store and started shopping. Customers followed her until police arrived. A few days later she was again involved in an inhalant related incident. She passed out while driving, with her young son in the car.

Man Burned After Abusing Inhalants

noreply@blogger.com (ACE News) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:02:00 +0000

Via the PhillyBurbs.com in Pennsylvania:

A 31 year old man ended up in the hospital earlier this week after an inhalant abuse incident. He was abusing inhalants in the parking lot of a local business when he lit a cigarette. The fumes ignited, burning his face and hands. He was taken to the hospital and charged with “being under the influence of a toxic chemical.”

Huffing Behind the Wheel Leads to Crash At Fast Food Drive Thru

noreply@blogger.com (ACE News) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:59:00 +0000

Via WKBN / WYFX TV in Ohio:

Earlier this week a 38 year old female was charged with “DUI and illegal use and possession of the noxious or solvent substance and reckless driving” after an inhalant related crash. She rear ended another vehicle in a fast food drive through after huffing computer dusting spray behind the wheel. When police responded they noted the four cans of the keyboard cleaner in the car.

Man Arrested for Huffing in Wal-Mart

noreply@blogger.com (ACE News) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:25:00 +0000

Via the Union Leader in New Hampshire:

Police arrested a man after Wal-Mart employees found him huffing compressed gas in the store. He passed out but had woken up and was huffing the product when police arrived. He was taken to the hospital for observation and charged with “inhaling toxic vapors for effect, disorderly conduct and willful concealment.”

16 Year Old Charged After Deadly Inhalant Related Crash

noreply@blogger.com (ACE News) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:16:00 +0000

Via The News Observer in Georgia:

The county grand jury returned a 16 count indictment against a 16 year old male after an inhalant related crash on July 1, 2011 that killed a Florida girl and seriously injured several members of her family. One of the charges included driving under the influence of an inhalant.

Mother of Two Killed After Driver Huffs Behind the Wheel

noreply@blogger.com (ACE News) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:54:00 +0000

Via StlToday in St Louis, Missouri:

A 38 year-old mother of two was killed on September 13, 2010 when a 28 year old male who had been huffing behind the wheel crashed into her at a service station. The article states a tank of refrigerant was found in the man’s car and a witness had claimed he has a history of huffing refrigerant and had passed out just after huffing behind the wheel. His car hit a small pole before striking the 38 year old woman. The driver is being charged with first degree involuntary manslaughter.

Wisconsin Woman Sentenced for Huffing

noreply@blogger.com (ACE News) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:34:00 +0000

Via Leader-Telegram in Wisconsin:

A 45 year old woman pleaded guilty to a “misdemeanor charge of intentionally abusing a hazardous substance” and was charged $243. On September 19 she had been found huffing computer dusting spray outside a local business.

The article also notes she was sentenced in April 2010 to “eight months in jail and five years of probation for inhaling from an aerosol can to get high prior to being involved in a one-vehicle traffic crash”

Huffing Behind the Wheel in Utah

noreply@blogger.com (ACE News) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:57:00 +0000

Via the Standard Examiner in Utah:

This weekend an 18 year old male was involved in an inhalant related accident after huffing computer duster behind the wheel. He and his 17 year old passenger were treated at the hospital and the driver was cited for “driving under the influence of drugs, possession of a psychotoxic chemical, failure to wear a seat belt and failure to stop at a stop sign.”

Caught Huffing in an Ohio Bathroom

noreply@blogger.com (ACE News) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:01:00 +0000

Via Mansfield News Journal in Ohio:

This weekend a 20 year old man was issued a summonses for “theft, abusing harmful intoxicants and possession of drug paraphernalia.” The police report notes the man took a spray can into the bathroom at a Wal-Mart and inhaled it to get high.

Blistered Results from Repeated Huffing in Ohio

noreply@blogger.com (ACE News) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 22:43:00 +0000

Via the Sandusky Register in Ohio:

Last Thursday, a search for the source of an odd odor led police to a 24 year old man huffing computer dusting spray in his living room. He was charged with abusing harmful intoxicants.

The report notes that when officers arrived they found the man surrounded by dozens of spent canisters of the dusting spray and his “mouth was swollen and covered with large, festering yello blisters” from huffing the spray.

The man told police he received a bulk shipment of the compressed gas four days ago after ordering them online at Amazon. He noted he needs the duster to “slow down his brain.” His mother was there with him as paramedics took him to the medical center. She said her son inhales dusters “all the time” even when she is present.

Driver Huffing Leads to Accident in North Carolina

noreply@blogger.com (ACE News) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:54:00 +0000

Via WITN in North Carolina:

A 24 year old woman has been charged with “careless and reckless driving, driving left of the center line and for inhaling toxic vapors” after an inhalant related accident yesterday.

The police report notes the driver has been huffing from an aerosol can when she lost control of the car and crashed into building. The building is now being renovated and the church next door was also affected. The driver is still behind bars on a $1,000 bond.

Reckless Driving: Huffing While Driving in NY

noreply@blogger.com (ACE News) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:42:00 +0000

Via North Country Now in New York:

A 35 year old man was charged with “driving and possession of toxic vapors” after an incident last Tuesday. The article notes “state law considers unlawful possession of inhalants and glues containing a solvent which releases toxic vapors used in “huffing,” or intoxication with the vapors, to be a violation.”

Caught Huffing Paint in a Church in Indiana

noreply@blogger.com (ACE News) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:55:00 +0000

Via WSBT in Indiana:

A 28 year old man was arrested at a church after he was found huffing gold paint in a stairwell. He was “arrested, accused of trespassing and inhaling toxic vapors.”

Tasered After Huffing in Wisconsin

noreply@blogger.com (ACE News) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:53:00 +0000

Via the Waukesha Patch in Wisconsin:

Last week a 26 year old man was charged with “intentionally abusing a hazardous substance” after an incident earlier this summer.

On August 12th, an officer was conducting a traffic stop when the 26 year old man began yelling and waving his arms to call him over. When he arrived at the park and ride lot the officer found the man slumped over, passed out in his car. The man woke up and started huffing from a can of computer dusting spray. The officer tried to take the can away but was unable to so he shocked the man with a Taser.

Sentenced for Inhalant Abuse in Wisconsin

noreply@blogger.com (ACE News) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:44:00 +0000

Via WQOW TV in Wisconsin:

A Wisconsin mother with a history of huffing has been sentenced. In September she was found lying on the ground near a grocery store after she had been huffing. This week she was put on probation and ordered to start a treatment program.

The article also notes that two years ago the woman was arrested after rolling her car while huffing and then several weeks later was found in a motel room surrounded by 35 empty aerosol cans.

Arrested for Huffing: Twice in the Same Day & In the Same Location

noreply@blogger.com (ACE News) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:05:00 +0000

Via the Bismark Tribune in North Dakota:

A 30 year-old man was arrested for inhalant abuse-twice in the same day and in the same parking lot. He had previously been arrested after driving under the influence of inhalants in August.

A police officer noticed a suspicious car in the mall parking lot and when he approached the car he saw the man put an aerosol can up to his mouth. He was arrested for inhalation of vapors and released after booking.

Around 8 hours later a different officer was driving through the mall parking lot when he noticed the car. Upon investigation he saw that the car was running and the driver was passed out holding an aerosol can in his hand. He was arrested and taken to the detention center where he was held on bond.

Caught Huffing While Awaiting Sentencing for Inhalant Abuse

noreply@blogger.com (ACE News) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:42:00 +0000

Via the Pittsburgh Tribune Review:

A 29 year-old man was arrested earlier this month after a probation officer caught him huffing computer duster spray behind a dumpster at the day reporting center. The officer noticed he appeared under the influence and had “an aerosol canister in his left jacket pocket.”

The man has been ordered to report to the center while awaiting sentencing on an inhalant related hit and run crash in October, his “third offense of being under the influence of a solvent.”

He Started Huffing in Iraq

noreply@blogger.com (ACE News) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 21:19:00 +0000

Via the Idaho Statesman:

A 28 year-old Army veteran first tried huffing computer dusters while stationed in Iraq. This past July 19 he was found in a field, surrounded by 42 cans of computer duster spray that he had stolen from Wal-Mart. The only thing he remembers is waking up in the hospital.

The article points out that a 2008 story “that ran in “Knowledge,” which calls itself the official safety magazine of the U.S. Army, reported that 47 members of the U.S. armed forces had died of inhalant use since 1998, more than half of them soldiers.” It also notes that the Department of Defense issued a release in October 2010 warning soldiers about huffing.

The army veteran says he suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2005 and his prescriptions weren’t helping to ease his headaches so he turned to computer dusters. He points out “It was very prevalent in the military. It’s readily available, and there is no drug test for it. It’s so fast-acting, it doesn’t leave a trace in your blood and urine.”

After reading about the dangers of huffing he stopped but two years later once he returned home he turned to dusters to help relieve PTSD induced nightmares. He quit after his wife threatened to kick him out and got outpatient treatment through the VA but started again after he got divorced.

His parents set him up with inpatient treatment at the VA hospital in Idaho but he soon started huffing once released. Police records show he was charged with “misdemeanor intoxication by inhalation of a toxic substance eight times between April and May” but he didn’t recall much of the incidents so never followed up. It led to jail time on a failure to appear in court which cost him his job and a chance to get back into a VA rehab program. Soon after he was found in the field with the 42 cans of computer dusting spray.

He was released from the hospital and went back to Washington state to get treatment for PTSD. He turned himself in on the burglary charge for the stolen dusters and plead guilty to the lesser charge of misdemeanor petit theft. His message to teens is “Don’t try inhalants. Ever. “I want to be done with it,” he said. “(Huffing) ruined my marriage, it ruined a lot of my friendships. It’s almost ruined my relationship with my parents.”

Caught Stealing Duster in Idaho

noreply@blogger.com (ACE News) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:23:00 +0000

Via the Moscow-Pullman Daily News in Idaho:

A 27 year old man was arrested earlier this month after an off-duty police officer saw him remove a can of computer dusting spray after leaving Wal-Mart. The man was charged with "third-degree theft, unlawful inhalation and unlawful use and possession of inhalants.”

Arrested For Huffing Nitrous in Tennessee

noreply@blogger.com (ACE News) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:34:00 +0000

Via WREG TV in Tennessee:

A 48 year-old man has been arrested and charged with a DUI after he was found huffing nitrous oxide while sitting in a parked car.

Deputies found the man sitting in the driver’s seat with the keys in the ignition and the car running. He appeared disoriented and in the car they found 1,000 canisters of Nitrous-Oxide or EZ-Whip but only 275 of the canisters were full.

Huffing Behind the Wheel Claims Another Life

noreply@blogger.com (ACE News) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:58:00 +0000

Via WSYR TV in New York:

A 20 year old man pleaded guilty to second degree manslaughter in the death of a 19 year old man. The 19 year old was walking home from work when the 20 year old struck and killed him with his car. The driver had purchased computer dusting spray at a Wegman’s and huffed the product in the car before driving off.

The article notes that he “could have spent the holidays with his family before his sentencing next month, but instead he asked the judge to be remanded to the County Justice Center to begin his sentence” and he “didn't think it was fair that he would get to spend Christmas with his family when his victim wasn't able to spend Christmas with [his] family.”

Texas Teen in a Coma After Inhalant Related Crash

noreply@blogger.com (ACE News) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:50:00 +0000

Via KXII TV in Texas:

A 19 year old man is in a coma after an inhalant related car accident earlier this month. The man was driving when the car hit a tree and crashed into a ditch. The passenger admitted they had been huffing earlier. The man’s father is now determined to warn others of the dangers of huffing.

“If you would like to help Michael's family with hospital bills an account has been set up at the Landmark Bank in Gunter under "Michael Elliot." They will also have a fundraiser in his honor Saturday, December 30 at the Gunter Fire Department.”

Driver Kills Friend in Inhalant Related Crash

noreply@blogger.com (ACE News) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:14:00 +0000

Via the Billings Gazette in Montana:

A woman has been charged with vehicular homicide of her 50 year old friend in an inhalant related crash on November 14th. The jeep crashed into another car before hitting a pole. The man suffered severe chest trauma and was pronounced dead after being taken to the medical center. The woman suffered several fractured bones.

The police investigation showed the two had purchased computer dusting spray at a Wal-Mart that am and again at a different Wal-Mart shortly before the crash. The driver later admitted to police she had been huffing from the can in the parking lot just before entering the road. Two cans of computer duster were found at the scene.

Butane Related Inhalant Death in New Zealand

noreply@blogger.com (ACE News) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:02:00 +0000

Via the Otago Daily Times in New Zealand:

The coroner has found that a 19 year-old man died on April 1, 2009 from the side effects of inhaling butane. The findings noted he had been with friends when he left them to go inhale butane in his bedroom. The next day he was reported missing and was found five days after his death in the yard of a neighbor.

The specialist forensic pathologist noted butane was the “most commonly abused volatile inhalant in New Zealand, and its use carried a significant risk of inadvertent death.”

Arrested For Huffing Cleaner in Massachusetts

noreply@blogger.com (ACE News) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 21:18:00 +0000

Via Taunton Daily Gazette in Massachusetts:

Last week a 28 year-old man was arrested for allegedly “sniffing an industrial strength cleaner while parked behind an adult entertainment store.” He was charged with driving with a suspended license and inhaling glue/a toxic substance.

An employee had called police after seeing the man slumped over the steering wheel of his car. The officer recognized the man from two previous huffing related incidents in July and August and asked him to exit the car. The police report notes the man was “completely unbalanced as he attempted to walk” and “had no idea where he was or what he was doing.” The officer shut the car off and noticed the duster on the center console. Once the man came to he admitted to using the product to get high.

In the previous cases the man admitted he had huffed in the military (Army) from which he had been discharged in July. After the second case the police filed “immediate threat” request with the Registry of Motor Vehicles to have the suspect’s license suspended.”