When parents think of their children and drug use, they often imagine malicious drug dealers entering their local schools or neighborhoods, but often, children and teens are using around-the-house items to get high.
Discuss with your child the dangers of using cleaning or other household products for anything other than their intended use. For parents of pre-teens especially, monitoring the amounts of and access to potentially mis-useable substances in your home can help prevent drug abuse from going unnoticed.
Below is a list of around-the-house items that that can and have been used to get high; however, it’s not an extensive list:
- Prescription drugs
- Cough syrups or decongestants
- Substances that come in spray bottles, such as vegetable spray, computer cleaning products and spray paint
- Gases such as propane, chloroform and whipped cream bottles
- Nitrates – substances often used in cleaners or room air fresheners
- Volatile solvents, such as permanent markers, paint thinners, glue, gasoline, degreasers
- Nutmeg (yes, the seasoning)