Inhalant Abuse and Dependence among Hispanic adolescents in the United States

Inhalant use is a serious drug problem worldwide, particularly in adolescents. National surveys in the United States have found that inhalants were the second most used class of illicit drugs in 8th and 10th graders adolescents. Inhalant use has been associated with the use of multiple illicit drugs, delinquency, depression, and chronic morbidities. The aim of this study is to examine the inhalant use and correlates among Hispanic adolescents aged 12 to 17 in the United States. Study data was drawn from the 2009 NSDUH. We compared the relative frequencies of inhalant use among adolescents. Also, we evaluated the correlates of socio-demographic characteristics, gender (sex) and inhalant use. OR [95% CIs] were also estimated for such variables. Inhalant use was common among the studied sample. More than 60% of those who reported ever using inhalants started at age 13 or earlier, and >50% of this group were female. Significant associations were found between being a female and ever inhaled glue/shoe polish or toluene (p < .05) and ever inhaled anesthetics (p < .05). Females were more likely to report using more than 2 types of inhalants in their lifetime compared to males. Furthermore, inhalant use was significantly associated with participation in mental health treatment (p < 0.05). Among adolescents, being younger and female was significantly associated with the use of inhalants. Prevention programs should target elementary school-age children and use gender differences to prevent multiple illicit drugs, delinquency, depression, and chronic morbidities.