Ed Jurith, acting director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, said in the news release that "most parents don't realize how dangerous inhalants can be."
"These products -- found in every home in America -- are among the most popular and deadly substances that kids abuse," he said. "Parents have a responsibility to be careful about how they store these common household products and to take the time to talk to their teens about the serious dangers associated with inhalant abuse."
Dr. Timothy Condon, deputy director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, said that "every new generation of children needs to be educated on the dangers of inhalant abuse" and added that the public and private sectors must "work together to reach as many teens and their parents as possible with the message that these easy-to-get chemicals can kill."
In an effort to prevent unauthorized access to air-conditioner refrigerants, the International Code Council now recommends locking caps on outside refrigerant access points. A group called United Parents to Restrict Open Access to Refrigerant plans to lobby states to adopt the code and is urging the council to endorse retrofitting of old air-conditioning systems.
"While we cannot lock up common household products, we can put access to air-conditioner refrigerants under lock and key to remove temptation from unsuspecting young people," Weiss said.
More information
The U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse has more about inhalant abuse.
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