Does a History of Head Injury Affect Inhalant Use?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:  While sports-related head injuries have generated a great deal of media attention over the past few years, little research has been done to investigate the effect youths’ head injuries may have on substance use behaviors. For the purpose of this study head injuries involve a loss of consciousness, such injuries have been referred to as a traumatic brain injury (Perron & Howard,2008; Kaba et al. 2014) . A few recent studies have found that incarcerated youth who had experienced head injuries were more likely to abuse inhalants compared to youth who had not experienced head injuries (Snyder & Howard, 2015; Perron & Howard,2008; Kaba et al. 2014).  However, there has yet to be a study that investigates the effect of head injuries on inhalant use among youth involved in the child welfare system. Because youth who have experienced maltreatment may be especially vulnerable to head injuries it is important to begin to fill this gap in the research.

We focus on in inhalant use because victims of child maltreatment have been found to be especially at risk of using inhalants (NIDA, 2012a). In addition, inhalants, which include include glue, paint, gasoline, solvents, whipped cream dispensers, and nail polish remover (Johnston et al., 2015; NIDA, 2012a, 2012b) can have deleterious health consequences such as brain damage, heart irregularities, optic nerve damage, hearing loss, liver damage, muscle atrophy, and death (NIDA, 2012a, 2012b). Youths consume inhalants via “sniffing,” “huffing,” or “snorting” fumes from paper or plastic bags, soaked rags, containers, or directly from aerosol cans.  Inhalant intoxication shares characteristics of alcohol intoxication; it lasts only a few minutes, includes euphoria, dizziness, ataxia, and slurred speech.  

METHODS: The sample was drawn from a subsample of 1,054 participants (11-17 years old) from Wave I (October 2008-September 2009) of the second National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW II). The dependent variable was lifetime inhalant use (yes=1). Covariates included age, sex (Male =1), race (White =1), out-of-home care (yes =1), whether youth had ever experienced a head injury with a loss of consciousness (yes =1), delinquency (sum of 36 items, ranges from 0 to 36). Logistic regression, which is used for modeling dichotomous outcome variables, was employed to investigate correlates of inhalant use.

RESULTS:  There was not a significant relationship between a history of head injury and inhalant use. However, as reports of delinquency increased youth were more likely to use inhalants (OR = 1.39, p< 0.01). Differences were not found based on sex, race, or whether youth lived in out-of-home care.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This study’s findings have important implications for policy and practice. Because youth who engaged in more delinquent behaviors were at a greater risk of using inhalants policies should target youth who engage in problem behaviors early to prevent inhalant use. Additionally, social workers who work in the child welfare system should be aware of the risk of inhalant use among youth who engage in delinquent behaviors.