DEAR ABBY:
Dear Abby Oct. 31, 1999
Celebrity Drug Deaths May Deter Youngsters
I am a counselor at a residential home for teen-aged girls. We've recently had a problem with a few of our girls 'huffing" (inhaling) cleaning chemicals. We've had several discussions with the girls about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.Although the girls appear to understand, I doubt that they fully understand how dangerous it is. I overheard one girl say, "Plenty of movie stars do it."
I remember a column in which you once printed a list of Celebrities who had died from alcohol or drug-related incidents. Can you reprint it? -
CONCERNED COUNSELOR, VIRGINIA BEACH, VA
DEAR COUNSELOR,
The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention provided me with a list of celebrities whose deaths were substance-abuse related. The amount of God-given talent lost is tragic:Chet Baker, John Belushi, Kurt Cobain, John Coltrane, Dorothy Dandridge, Miles Davis, Jerry Garcia, Judy Garland, Andy Gibb, Jimi Hendrix, Billie Holiday, Brian Jones, Janis Joplin, Bela Lugosi, Keith Moon, Marilyn Monroe, Jim Morrison, Charlie "Bird" Parker, Edith Piaf, River Phoenix, Elvis Presley, Freddie Prinz Sr., Jean Seberg, Sid Vicious and Dennis Wilson.
I was shocked to learn that inhalant abuse is the fourth most common form of substance abuse among high school students, behind alcohol, tobacco and marijuana. A 1997 survey on drug abuse revealed that almost as many eighth-graders have abused inhalants (21 percent) as have used marijuana (22.6 percent).
Among the common products on the market with the potential for being abused: glues, nail polish remover, paint products, correction fluid, hair spray, gasoline, room deodorizers, markers, Freon, lighter fluid, gases (helium, butane, propane), computer sprays, cleaning agents and fire extinguishers.
The effects of inhalant abuse include intoxication, short-term memory loss, hearing loss, limb spasms, bone marrow damage, liver and kidney damage, permanent brain damage and death.
Copyright: 1999 Universal Press Syndicate.
