Research That Matters (January 17 - 20, 2008)

Background and Purpose: Inhalation of gasoline, glue, and other volatile solvents for the purposes of intoxication is highly prevalent in low income and otherwise disadvantaged populations served by social workers. Prior studies have identified high rates of inhalant abuse among reservation-based American Indians, Hispanic youth living in barrio areas, and street youth living in many areas of the United States. This study was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and is among the first and largest investigations to assess the prevalence and nature of inhalant about among incarcerated youth. This initial report examined the overall prevalence of inhalant use in this population, the prevalence of specific types of inhalant use, and the typical locations, times, and contexts of inhalant use.

Methods: Residents (N = 723) of 27 Missouri Division of Youth Services (DYS) rehabilitation facilities completed interviews assessing substance use, mental health symptoms, antisocial attitudes, trauma, suicidality, and criminality. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with nearly the entire population of incarcerated youth in DYS at the time the study was conducted. Only 5 of 728 youth refused or were unable to fully participate in the study. All youth completed the Volatile Solvent Screening Inventory and Comprehensive Solvent Assessment Interview developed by the first author.

Results: Participants averaged 15.5 (SD = 1.2) years of age, were ethnically diverse, and predominantly male. More than one-third (36.9 %) reported lifetime inhalant use; 47.9 % of users had tried 4 or more inhalants. Of the 267 users, 47.9 % had tried 4 or more inhalant products, whereas 20.2 %, 16.1 %, and 15.7 % had used 1, 2, or 3 inhalants, respectively. The mean number of inhalants used by lifetime inhalant users was 4.8 (SD = 4.1; median = 3.0, min = 1.0; max = 24.0). High rates of use were observed for Hispanic, bi/multi-racial, and small town/rural youth. Commonly abused agents included gasoline (22%), permanent markers (15%), computer “air duster,” (15%), spray paint (12%), nail polish remover (9%), nail polish (8.4%), paint thinner (8.3 %), air freshener (8.0 %), correction fluid (7.2%), Butane (6.9%), and Freon (6.1%). Additional findings will be presented describing typical temporal, geographic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal contexts of inhalant use.

Conclusions and Implications: Inhalant use was widespread in this sample of incarcerated youth and associated with serious polyinhalant and polydrug abuse, among many other social and psychological comorbities. Social workers who work with antisocial youth and other disadvantaged client populations should be attuned to the possibility that their clients may be abusing inhalants. Approaches to identifying and intervening with inhalant use will be discussed.