Assemblymen Doug Fisher and Herb Conaway

FISHER/CONAWAY MEASURE TO COMBAT 'HUFFING'
CLEARS COMMITTEE
Measure Would Make It A Crime To Sell Aerosol Dusters To Children

(TRENTON) -- The Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee today approved legislation Assemblymen Douglas H. Fisher and Herbert Conaway, M.D., sponsored to deter youngsters from inhaling common household items such as aerosol dusters to get high. The Fisher/Conaway measure (A-3339) would make it a crime to sell or distribute an aerosol duster to minors under 18 years of age. Violations would carry a civil penalty of up to $250 in fines for a first offense, up to $500 in fines for a second offense, and $1,000 for each subsequent offense.

"Common household items like computer board cleaners pose a serious health threat to children," said Fisher (D-Cumberland/Salem/Gloucester). "Children need to know that these products are as dangerous as drugs, smoking, and alcohol. Huffing is on the rise, and steps need to be taken to ensure our children are protected."

Fisher recently attended a State House rally with advocates and school counselors to launch what they called the New Jersey Inhalant Abuse Prevention Program -- an effort to make parents aware of the growing huffing problem.

"Huffing and other destructive behavior like bagging, chroming and glading are on the rise across America and New Jersey," said Conaway (D-Burlington/Camden), a physician. "Parents, children and schools must be made aware of the risks of the damage that can be done to the brain, organs and muscles when these products are used. It is vital that New Jersey take the necessary steps to protect children from huffing and other similar destructive behavior."

"Bagging" is breathing from a paper bag into which one has placed any number of aromatics. "Chroming" is sniffing fumes of metallic spray paint. "Gladding" is sniffing air fresheners. A "gluey" is one who prefers sniffing glue, while a "huffer" is a fan of inhalants such as deodorant, whipped cream, or computer keyboard cleaners.

According to the Alliance for Consumer Education, one in four students in America has intentionally abused a common household product to get high by the time they reach the eighth grade. The group also notes that inhalants tend to be the drug that is tried first by children and that inhalants are the third most abused substance after alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana.

New Jersey's 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, for which the state Department of Education relies on students' honesty, reported that one in 10 students said they sniffed glues, sprays or paints to get high. That 10.1 percent was down from 12.7 percent in 2001. Also in the 2005 report, 11.5 percent of students age 15 and younger admitted to the act, as well as 10.3 percent of 16 and 17-year-olds, and 6.2 percent of young men and women age 18 and older.

The measure passed 5-0-1. It now heads to the Assembly Speaker, who decides if and when to post it for a floor vote.

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