Discussing drug and substance abuse with your children is important, but there may be something you are forgetting to talk about. They’re called inhalants.

Hi, I’m Dr. John Hellerstedt with the Children’s Health Minute, presented by this station and TexCare-- connecting families with CHIP and Children’s Medicaid.

A lot of parents worry about their children becoming involved with alcohol and drugs, but you may not realize that ordinary home products pose a substance abuse hazard too. Inhalants are ordinary household products that are inhaled or sniffed to get high. Examples include model airplane glue, nail polish remover, cleaning fluids, hair spray, gasoline, spray paint, air conditioner coolant, and correction fluid.

Inhalants can cause permanent brain and lung damage and may lead to further drug abuse. Talking with your child about the dangers of inhalants is the best way to keep them safe.