OROS CALLS FOR MORE ACTION AGAINST THE USE OF INHALANTS BY MINORS
Oros introduces legislation to prohibit the sale of dusters & increase awareness about inhalant abuse

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, September 6, 2005

Contact: George Oros, 914.995.2828, Oros@westchesterlegislators.com

Cortlandt, NY – Legislator George Oros (R –Cortlandt) today announced an important legislative proposal that would prohibit the sale of aerosol dusters, such as the product Dust Off, to minors. It would also create penalties for those caught using or selling inhalants for abusive purposes and require County substance abuse programs and classes to teach the dangers of inhalant abuse in schools and other facilities. It would require warning labels on the canisters and conspicuous warning signs at point of sale.

“It’s scary, but more and more minors are trying inhalants, they’re easy to purchase, inexpensive and they work quickly giving users about 10 seconds of a euphoric high. Unfortunately, what many users don’t know is that even just one use, one time, can cause death,” said Oros.

An inhalant is used generally by breathing it through the mouth or nose, sniffing it, spraying it or huffing it from plastic bags, balloons or gloves. Inhalants can give you a brief high, but can cause severe brain, liver and kidney damage, organ failure, hearing loss and immediate cardiac arrest - causing death.

Inhalant products are common, easy to find and most are legally available to all ages. Over 1000 common products contain chemicals that can be misused and inhaled ranging from gasoline and glue to nail polish remover, felt tip markers, and hair spray.

“It was my own 12 year old daughter, Christina, who brought me a story about a 14 year boy who tragically died from inhaling a can of a computer duster product,” said Oros.

Dusters are used to clean hard to reach places like computers and filing cabinets. They can be found in most supply stores. In 2001, David Manlove, 15, of Indianapolis, died after inhaling fumes from a can of duster, which many minors think only contains compressed air. This March, Kyle Williams, 14, of Painesville Township, Ohio, died after huffing a can of Dust-Off duster.

In his legislation, Oros is proposing that the sale of aerosol dusters to minors, such as Dust Off, be prohibited in Westchester County. Despite misconceptions, dusters do not contain compressed air, they contain compressed gas. Chemicals such as difluoroethane or tetrafluoroethane are used to propel the blast of air that cleans. These propellants when inhaled produce a euphoric high and dizziness because the chemicals go directly to the brain.

“It is nearly impossible to keep every inhalant product away from minors, but the least we can do to protect our youth is limit their access to high risk products like Dust Off, create penalties for users and educate our children about inhalant abuse,” said Oros.

Because the intense high is short lived, inhalants can become highly addictive. More usage increases the damage done to the central nervous system. Many users don’t realize that misuse of these products cuts off oxygen to the brain so quickly that just one inhalation can be fatal.

“As parents we talk with our children about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, but few parents know to talk about inhalants. Some don’t even realize that there are common household products that can be misused to get high,” said Oros.

Legislator George Oros has been and remains active in the prevention of drug use among minors. Recently, he helped pass a Westchester County law that prohibits the sale of large quantities of ephedrine based products, that can be used to make crystal-meth. Oros also supported the passage of legislation that prohibits the sale of spray-paint to minors, which can also be used as an inhalant. In 1993, as a Councilman in Cortlandt, Legislator Oros was instrumental in establishing the local DARE program.

“For the safety and future of our children, I hope to gain the support of all of my colleagues on the Board of Legislators and have this crucial legislation passed in the coming months,” concluded Oros.