It is a terrifying thing to think about. I was 14 years old at my friend Rebecca’s house (because I lived there after running away from home), and we were bored troubled teens looking for something to do. We had some of our mutual friends come over and one of them decided it would be a good idea to bring butane for all of us to inhale so we could get high.
We all took turns inhaling the toxic fumes, not knowing that it could be our last breath. It made me feel dizzy and nauseated and drunk. At the time it was fun and games, plus everyone else was doing it too so why not? The reality is that kids are desperate to get high and will use anything they can get their hands on. It is inhalants like shoe polish,glue and butane that are the choice drugs of 12- and 13-year-olds according to a new national report released by the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Parents need to be mindful especially if they have teenagers, that they could be taking your prescription medicines and using or selling them for money. You may be thinking (my bobby would never do that)-but you just don’t know. My parents did not know that I was doing it either and I am 33 years old now with three children of my own and my parents still don’t know that I did that when I was a teen. That is not something a lot of kids want to brag about to an adult and will do anything to hide it from their parents. It is a dangerous reality and something that cannot be ignored. If you notice shoe polish or any other chemicals in your teens room, you may want to get to the bottom of it because it is always better to be safe now then sorry later when it’s too late.
