Pulling up to the gas pump, a parent might not have any idea that a lesson is waiting to be taught to their children.

Friday, April 14, 2000

Pulling up to the gas pump, a parent might not have any idea that a lesson is waiting to be taught to their children.

"What would you do, if while you are at the gas pump, your child says, ‘Mommy, I really like the smell of gas?’" asked Marc Groves, an expert on the abuse of inhalants.

Groves was at the J.C. Hormel Nature Center’s Ruby Rupner Auditorium Thursday night to present area parents with information about the intentional inhalation of common household items by children.

"This is a teachable moment," he continued. "As a parent, you can tell you child that inhaling gas can be very harmful to them."

Using the term "sniffing" or "huffing," Groves, who has worked as a school counselor and in a detox center, described how short moments with children can go a long way in helping to prevent this practice, which can result in death.

About 40 people were at the presentation for a variety of reasons. One parent in the audience worried about her daughters, one of whom has tested positive for the use of marijuana; she worries the other will as well.

She got some advice from another parent present at the presentation.

"Go to school with your daughter," Debbie Scrabeck said. "I’ve done it; just get up and take them to school and walk her from class to class; cut her meat for her and treat her like a child."

Afterward, the concerned parent said she probably will do just that – go with her daughter to class.

Groves said because even common household products can be used to "catch a buzz," parents need to be aware of signs their child might be "huffing."

Mary Giese, principal of Southgate Elementary School, was present at the program. She said relationships between parents and children was an important topic addressed by Groves.

"Since these products are so readily available, we can’t keep children from exposure to them," she said. "He did an excellent job of reframing the problem and giving examples of how to redouble our efforts.

"Not only parents, but other significant adults are really an important piece to setting a positive influence."

Signs of inhalant abuse

Marc Groves, an expert on the abuse of inhalants, told parents at the Ruby Rupner Auditorium Thursday about the signs of abuse to look for:

Red, glassy or watery eyes

Slow, thick slurred speech

Disorientation

General drunken appearance

Complaints of headaches and nausea

Chemical odor in the room

Staggering gait and uncoordination

Inflamed nose, nosebleeds and rashes around the nose and mouth

Loss of appetite

Paint on hands or around mouth

If cans of aerosol whipped cream don’t foam or if your air conditioner doesn’t work