NIDA Community Drug Alert Bulletin - Inhalants
Who Abuses Inhalants?

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  • People who abuse inhalants live in both urban and rural settings. Poverty, a history of physical or sexual abuse, poor grades, and school dropout all are associated with inhalant abuse.
  • Most inhalant abusers are younger than age 25. One national survey indicates that about 3 percent of U.S. children have tried inhalants by the time they reach fourth grade.
  • Eighth-graders generally abuse at higher rates than 10th- or 12th-graders.
  • In 2004, 8th-grade girls reported more inhalant abuse than boys, while 12th-grade boys reported more than girls.