CANTON -
A 13 year old Canton boy is lucky to be alive after police say he tried to get high by inhaling vapors from a propane tank used for camper stoves. It's called huffing and it's something people do when they try to get high off household products like spray paint cans, whip cream cans and in this case, a propane gas tank.
"Speaking with the father, I do know that he did have some burns to the larynx but the extent of his injuries were not as severe as what was relayed to us initially," said Canton police Chief Lori Coppinger. "As far as we know speaking to the father, his hands were not amputated. He did have a minor injury to his hands and its healing."
The boys identity is not being released. The director of the Connecticut Poison Center said they get anywhere from a half dozen to a dozen huffing calls a year.
"What the chemical does is it shuts off oxygen briefly to the brain and causes an initial feeling of high or a good feeling," said Bernard Sangalli.
However, it's also like playing a game of Russian roulette. Experts said someone can use it one time and be fine and use it again and die. The chemicals can cause an irregular heartbeat similar to that in a heart attack.
Experts say unlike with alcohol and marijuana, the high with inhalants is short-lived and harder to detect.
"A child goes into the boys or girls room, takes a quick puff, goes back out, schools not aware of it," said Mirelle Freedman with the Capital Area Substance Abuse Council.
Mirelle said parents need to look for warning signs even it they don't last long. Warning signs include things like slurred speech, silly behavior or the opposite. She said parents need to talk about the dangers of huffing now and not later. Freedman said while stories like these bring attention to the problem for parents, it also gives kids ideas. Mirelle said even if they never did it before, they may be more tempted by friends now to do it.
"Speaking with the father, I do know that he did have some burns to the larynx but the extent of his injuries were not as severe as what was relayed to us initially," said Canton police Chief Lori Coppinger. "As far as we know speaking to the father, his hands were not amputated. He did have a minor injury to his hands and its healing."
The boys identity is not being released. The director of the Connecticut Poison Center said they get anywhere from a half dozen to a dozen huffing calls a year.
"What the chemical does is it shuts off oxygen briefly to the brain and causes an initial feeling of high or a good feeling," said Bernard Sangalli.
However, it's also like playing a game of Russian roulette. Experts said someone can use it one time and be fine and use it again and die. The chemicals can cause an irregular heartbeat similar to that in a heart attack.
Experts say unlike with alcohol and marijuana, the high with inhalants is short-lived and harder to detect.
"A child goes into the boys or girls room, takes a quick puff, goes back out, schools not aware of it," said Mirelle Freedman with the Capital Area Substance Abuse Council.
Mirelle said parents need to look for warning signs even it they don't last long. Warning signs include things like slurred speech, silly behavior or the opposite. She said parents need to talk about the dangers of huffing now and not later. Freedman said while stories like these bring attention to the problem for parents, it also gives kids ideas. Mirelle said even if they never did it before, they may be more tempted by friends now to do it.
