Coroner: Cal State students death was due to huffing
| Friday, Jun 05 2009 04:02 PM
Last Updated Friday, Jun 05 2009 04:02 PM
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General signs of inhalant abuse include problems in school, and the prevalence of spray cans or soda cans around the house, car or bedroom that smell of chemicals. Paraphernalia includes plastic bags, old rags or socks.
Behaviors or physical signs of chronic abuse are varied but include:
Red or runny nose or nosebleeds
Sores or rash around mouth or nose
Hand tremors
Chronic cough
Decrease in appetite
Weight loss
Headaches
Temperamental behavior
Poor memory, confusion
Moody, restless activity
Source: International Institute of Inhalant Abuse
A huffing death at Cal State Bakersfield has revived a publicly dormant issue in Kern County.
Coroner officials confirmed Friday that the March 27 death of 21-year-old Erin Ruge was due to inhaling the propellant in a can of dust remover.
The propellant gives the inhaler a 10-second high. It's known as "dusting."
The case brought back memories of the 1995 death of 12-year-old Wade Alan Heiss, the son of former Bakersfield doctor Richard Heiss.
The boy died from inhaling butane fumes.
Dr. Heiss went on Good Morning America and other forums to warn of the dangers of huffing, the inhalation of fumes in common household products that can turn deadly.
Aerosols like cooking spray, air freshener and cleaner all have a chemical in them that gives those who sniff a short-lived high. More than 1,000 household products can be used this way.
What Ruge used was a product called Clean Safe Dust Remover, which shoots a blast of compressed air through a nozzle to remove dust from computer keyboards.
Three 12-ounce cans were found in her Kroll Way apartment, coroner officials said.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has said the peak age of inhalant abusers is 14 to 15, though some begin as young as 6 to 8 years. Many adult deaths have also been reported.
This menace takes hundreds, and maybe thousands of youthful lives each year, according to the International Institute of Inhalant Abuse.
Some statistics show that as many as one in five children have at least tried huffing at least once before reaching 9th grade.
While widespread abuse is reported, very few seek treatment. Directors at two Bakersfield substance abuse centers, Legacy Behavioral Sciences Substance Abuse Treatment and Genesis Group, said they don't recall treating anyone for the problem.
Nonetheless, Legacy Director Kevin Harris said "it is the drug of choice for many adolescents."
