Most of us have grandchildren and know that they are exposed to computers in our home and their own homes.  A new danger I recently became aware of is called "Dusting" and can be very dangerous.  So that we can all be aware and make our homes as safe as possible I would like to share with you comments from an article by Peter Alexander of NBC News.

 In his article Peter said, "There's a new way to get high, and you could have it right next to your desk at home. They're designed to clean your computer but, if inhaled, these popular products have the potential to kill.  It's called "dusting" - the term comes from the cleaning brand "Dust Off" - and it has become a teenager's new cheap and easily accessible high, despite a warning on the side of each canister"

Peter's article was written in 2005 but the problem continues to be serious.  He said, "The dangerous practice was dramatized in the film "Thirteen." In the opening scene, the two actresses are sitting on a bed, "dusting," and then slapping each other out of their trance like states.

"Sudden sniffing death" describes the process of inhaled hydrocarbons provoking irregular heart rhythms in the victim, which leads to sudden fatal cardiac arrest in even very young and healthy hearts." 

Peter went on to say, "Dusting is part of a larger problem involving inhalants, with huffing on the rise. In 2002, more than a million people abused them for the first time - the vast majority in their teens.  The National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that inhalant experimentation is initiated earlier than any other illicit substance, with young females starting before young males. Also, a higher percentage of 12 and 13 year olds had used inhalants than marijuana. 

Inhalant abuse is often more dangerous and difficult to detect than other drug abuse. Inhalants such as glue, lighter fluid and spray paint are completely legal and found in every home - which often leads kids to think they are harmless - and abusers need to conceal only the act of inhaling, not the product."

The article gave no easy answers except to advise us to use less aerosols and more hand pump sprays instead.  It said warning signs that dusting is going on are:

Disappearance of the product at a rapid rate

Empty cans or containers of chemicals in trash cans

Keep your eyes open and if you are interested, do some research on the latest news on "Dusting".