Below is a news release on a clinical report appearing in the May issue of Pediatrics, the peer-reviewed, scientific journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). To receive the full text of this report, please contact the AAP Department of Communications.

For Release: May 7, 2007, 12:01 am (ET)

CHICAGO - Inhalant abuse is a potentially deadly, yet often under-recognized form of substance abuse, occurring in all demographic, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. A new American Academy of Pediatric (AAP) clinical report, "Inhalant Abuse," outlines the types of chemicals and common household products inhaled by approximately 11 percent of children and adolescents (as young as age 5 or 6) and possible effects, including sudden death. Signs and symptoms of inhalant abuse are often hard to detect. However, changes in adolescent behavior, including apathy, listlessness, poor appetite; a significant shift in friends or activities; disinterest in school; poor hygiene; fatigue; sinus/nasal problems; and depression and/or paranoia may be signs of inhalant abuse. The report recommends that pediatricians familiarize themselves with inhalant abuse, including local and regional trends, and help educate children, parents, educators, media, and vendors of volatile substances on the risks of inhalant use. Pediatricians also need to know what resources are available so that children and families can get appropriate treatment and/or therapy to curtail inhalant abuse as soon as possible.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.