The arrest of 39-year-old Darrell Taylor brings to light the issue of huffing, which is the fourth leading form of substance abuse in the nation, said Captain Andy Jackson of the Roanoke Rapids Police Department.
Officer Chris Babb responded to the call shortly before 5 p.m. at the Roanoke Community Center on Tenth Street and observed Taylor in the doorway behind the business laying down with his back against the wall allegedly inhaling toxic vapors from a can of Dust Destroyer.
Taylor was unable to get up on his own and Sergeant Daniel Jenkins assisted Babb in getting the man, who lives on Rapids Street, to his feet.
After further investigation the officers found a crack pipe in his pants pocket and charged him with inhaling toxic vapors and possession of drug paraphernalia. Taylor was jailed on $1,000 bond and has a March 2 court date.
Across the nation, several teens have died from inhaling toxic fumes from cleaning spray, Jackson said.
Inhaling vapors gives the user a minimal high similar to being intoxicated by alcohol. “If you read the labels they have stern warnings about misuse.”
Huffing causes impaired judgment, belligerent behavior and more serious health problems such as sudden cardiac arrest and damage to the heart, kidney and lungs.
Some common forms of huffing include sniffing fumes from aerosol sprays, nitrous oxide, paint thinners and glue. “What we see around here is people huffing freon from air conditioning units. Other refrigerants cause poisoning and death.”
While most common among eighth, tenth and twelfth graders, Jackson said, “When we find people doing it later in life, they've done it before.”
Parents need to be aware of the problem and that death can occur from a single use, called sudden sniffing death.
He said terms to look for include hippy crack, poppers, snappers, head cleaner, rush and poor man's pot. The opening and sniffing of CO2 cartridges is called cricket. “Parents of teens need to be vigilant of substance abuse. They're easily purchase and inexpensive.”
Parents should look for signs of light headedness, weight loss, irritability, depression, mood changes and impaired cognitive skills and slurred speech.
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