This video about volatile substances, or 'huffing', is for New Zealand parents, caregivers, whānau and those working with young people to understand basic facts about inhaling substances, or huffing. Don't stop here, start a conversation.
Did you know that inhaling substances is commonly known as ‘huffing’.
There is no safe level of use, which can lead to ‘sudden sniffing death,’ even you only try it once.
Huffing is not very common in New Zealand. Only 1.2% of secondary school students have ever tried huffing to get out of it, and almost two thirds of those had only done it once. However, huffing lead to the deaths of 25 young people under 17 within 10 years. The youngest was only 12 years old.
Inhalants are taken into the lungs and directly absorbed into the bloodstream. These poisonous chemicals immediately reach the brain and the peak effect is felt for around a minute. Most people will experience a nasty hangover or headache, which can last for hours or days, depending on how much you inhale.
Huffing can make you feel floaty or drowsy, uncoordinated and slow to react, with blurry vision and unpleasant breath. It can lead to extreme aggression, depression, irreversible brain and organ damage, seizures, coma and death. Volatile substances are also highly flammable and can cause dangerous burns and explosions.
So, remember,
- There is no safe level for inhaling solvents or volatile substances
- Huffing can cause you serious harm
- Always look out for your mates
Did you know...
These toxic chemicals are commonly found in New Zealand households? Using them to feel out of it is very dangerous but very uncommon. They are usually designed to be used as a poison, fuel, or cleaning product. Any use of these substances carries a risk of sudden death. They should always be avoided.
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Kia mōhio koe: Volatile substances
Kia mōhio koe…….ko te hākina e ngā matū e kiia nei ko te “Huffing.”
He tokoiti ngā tāngata e mahia te Huffing i Aotearoa.
Kei raro i te 1.2 orau o ngā taiohi e hākina matu mo te rehutanga me iti ake ki tēra e whakamahia kia kotahi taima anake. Heoi anō, ka mate i ngā 25 tāngata mā te hākina matu kei raro i te tekau mā whitu pakeke o roto i te tekau tau! Ko te tekau mā rua pakeke te tamaiti.
Ka haere tika i ngā paihana o te matu ki nga pukahukahu nō roto i ngā ara toto. Kia tae tika atu e nga paihana ki te roro kia haurangi neke atu i te kotahi meniti.
Ko te nuinga o ngā tāngata ka māuiui i muri mai te kai matu.
Tēna pea ko te wha haora tae atu ki te koatahi rā te roa o te māuiui.
Ko te āhua o te rehutanga pēra i te rererangi me te rangirua. Kahora anō kua tau te mahi hinengaro ki te mahi tinana, me te kaha haunga o te hāputa.
Ko te mate me te porangi ngā tino awenga i ahu mau i te hākina matū!
Ko te nuinga o ngā matu ka piri ki te ahi!!
No reira, kia mahara atu, Kahore he haumarutanga mā te hākina matū! E kore taea te karo i te mate! Tiakina o hoa!
About Did You Know
These tools and resources were initiated by the Counties Manukau AOD Provider Collaborative and the New Zealand Drug Foundation with support from Odyssey. Expert advice and participation from young people were used in their development. Creative by Mohawk Media.
Did You Know is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.