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The Middlesex County Substance Abuse Action Council (MCSAAC) Public Message Forum
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Margaret Ann Wagner
 Jan 18, 06 - 1:00 PM |
We Card ID Program to Include the Purchase of an Inhalant Product
Project Keith WE CARD IDENTIFICATION PROGRAM TO INCLUDE INHALANTS IN MEMORY OF KEITH LAWRENCE WAGNER - 12/12/82 -8/7/98 PLEASE PASS THIS INFORMATION ON My name is Margaret Ann Wagner, this issue involves the danger of inhalants for all of our children. My son Keith was killed August 7, 1998 in an automobile crash in Kinnelon, New Jersey where I resided at the time. Since his death I have become an Inhalant Abuse Advocate. I am writing to ask for your help and support for you to add the purchase of an inhalant product as part of your "We Card" identification system already in place nationwide for alcohol and tobacco by minors under the age of 18. This dangerous and sometimes deadly practice of inhalant abuse involves all of ours nation's children. Inhalant abuse refers to the deliberate inhalation or sniffing of common products found in homes and communities with the purpose of "getting high." Inhalants are easily accessible, legal, everyday products. There is no 'golden hour' for resuscitation involving inhalant abuse. Inhalants deprive the brain from a supply of oxygen when intentionally misused; they can cause death commonly known as "Sudden Sniffing Death." The first time an inhalant product may very well be the last time for your child. I am writing to ask for your help and support to propose to your local governmental representative to have the "We Card" identification system already in place nationwide for alcohol and tobacco to include the purchase of inhalants by minors under the age of 18 and to help eliminate this dangerous and sometimes deadly practice our nation’s children are participating in OUR CHILDREN ARE KILLING THEMSELVES AND IT HAS TO STOP! Other methods used include placing inhalants on sleeves, collars, or other items of clothing that are sniffed over a period of time. Fumes are discharged into soda cans and inhaled from the can or balloons are filled with nitrous oxide and the vapors are inhaled. Obtaining inhalants in today's market is as easy as purchasing a party packet of balloons complete with the canister. (Target, Value City, and ToysRUs are some examples of merchant retailers in which either this packet could be purchased, or had a commercial in which inhalant abuse was depicted) Heating volatile substances and inhaling the vapors emitted is another form of inhalation. Reports of inhalant abuse among teenage girls indicate the filling lipstick containers with butane, as well as painting of their nails with correction fluid. Personally the only retailer that I am aware that asks for identification is Wal-Mart; but they too may be unaware of various types of inhalant products our children are using to get high. One of the most common uses among teenagers today is compressed air for cleaning computers. No parent in this computer era would be suspicious to find a can of "Dust Off" in their child's room. There are more than 1,000 products which are potentially dangerous when inhaled, such as typewriter correction fluid, air-conditioning coolant, gasoline, (just with gasoline alone, any car in a parking lot offers easy access for our children to get high and die) felt tip markers, spray paint, air freshener, butane, cooking spray, paint, and glue. Most are common products that can be found in the home, garage, office, school or as close as the local convenience store. Another recent craze our children are participating is ‘self suffocation’ by the use of plastic bags and tourniquets around the neck to the point of unconsciousness. Our children can legally purchase an inhalant product for as little as $1.50 (lunch money.) Identification for the purchase of inhalants are currently only included in a 'store policy' regulation and usually involves the purchase of an aerosol product, there many other types of inhalants such as vapors and fumes which can be legally purchased and an uninformed retail cashier would allow such a product to be purchased. There is no national legislative law that requires proof of age. I can be reached at keithslaw@ltis.net; 269 Oak Hill Road, Hawley, PA 18428. Please visit Keith's website at http://www.geocities.com/Wellesly/Atrium/5833. . Another source of information is Harvey Weiss of NIPC at www.inhalants.org. Thank you for your anticipated cooperation. Sincerely, Margaret Ann Wagner |
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