I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow my mind.

As parents, we know some of the names of drugs; marijuana, crack, heroin, ecstasy, and we imagine that drug dealers are targeting our teenagers because they know just how vulnerable that age group can be, and how easy it is to get them addicted. What many parents may not know is that teenagers themselves, are researching drugs on the Internet, and looking for cheap ways to get high. It may seem shocking that teens should actively search for drugs, but this is part of their curiosity with the world.

However much they are told of the dangers of drugs, teenagers frequently believe that adults are just keeping them from having fun. If they can find a cheap way to get high, then even better and they can tell their friends and earn some kudos for the knowledge. What is more, they rationalize that, as some of the products they use in the quest for a buzz are household products, it cannot be illegal to take them.

When glue sniffing first occurred amongst children, there was an outcry, that a simple product used in schools and households across the world could be used as a form of drug. Regulations were brought in to curb the use by restricting the purchase of certain types of glue to minors. It may horrify parents to know that their house still contains products that their teenager could use as a drug and that there is a term for this sort of abuse, it is called, huffing.

Huffing is the inhalation of various household chemicals in order to get high. Some of the things a teenager may inhale are, White-out, permanent and whiteboard markers and just about anything in an aerosol can, with air fresheners being a particular favorite! If you notice a chemical smell coming from your kid or their room, be skeptical if they say they have been cleaning; teenagers cleaning??? No, not very likely, especially if it is occurring on a regular basis. Items like white out and markers are in most home offices, but will not ever be requested by a school as an item the teenager requires for school use.

In fact, when these items disappear from a teacher's desk they hunt down the culprit; teachers are aware of the practice of huffing, as a parent, you also need to be aware. Huffing burns holes and destroys your child's brain so this is not to be taken lightly as an addiction. It gives the child severe headaches and can make them sick and listless and can sometimes be misdiagnosed as other illnesses. Lock your household chemicals away securely, find some gruesome pictures of brain damage, and scare the heck out of your teenager. Huffing is not fun, or clever or a way to dodge the law; it is lethal, dangerous and can ultimately cost your teen their life.