There’s a new drug high becoming popular in North Texas – inhaling the aerosol sprayers used to remote dust from your computer. Not surprising, the activity is called ‘dusting’. It may seem harmless but, like other inhalants, it’s far from it. There’s a good chance kids who do it will need drug rehab or drug detox when they get older. But that’s not the worst that can happen: Dusting affects the organs and bones, both long and short term, and can cause a heart attack that could kill instantly.

While prescription drugs are getting most of the press in Texas, dusting is also making the news. You can buy an air duster for $5 and get high with it, and teenagers use it – and other inhalants -  when they can’t get their hands on prescription drugs.

There has been a rise in inhalant use among teenagers over the past two years. Inhalant use by 6th graders has risen by 44%, and among eighth graders it’s increased by 18%. I think the reason the younger kids are taking more of it is they have more trouble getting drugs alcohol. But as they get older, well, why bother with inhalants when you can get Ritalin from one of your class mates?

There are 2.6 million kids using inhalants, and even more using prescription drugs and street drugs. When you’re already getting high at 11 or 12 years old, the chances of having a drug problem in the future are pretty high. In fact, statistics show that about 25% of them will eventually need a drug detox or drug rehab program. Watch for the signs with your kids, and get them into Texas drug rehab as soon as you realize there’s a problem.

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