PRINTER'S NO. 140
No. 38 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY M. O'BRIEN, SAYLOR, J. TAYLOR, MARKOSEK, SWANGER,
PALLONE, READSHAW AND ROSS, JANUARY 31, 2007
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
JANUARY 31, 2007
A RESOLUTION
1 Observing the week of March 18 through 24, 2007, as "National
2 Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, More than 1,000 different household and commercial
4 products, as close as under the kitchen sink or in a public
5 school classroom, can be abused as intoxicating inhalants and
6 inhalants can cause serious health problems and death, even with
7 first-time use; and
8 WHEREAS, Items such as air fresheners, cooking spray, markers
9 and glue are being used by young people to induce a euphoric
10 feeling, or "high," by either sniffing the aerosol spray or by
11 inhaling, or "huffing," the product through the mouth, usually
12 from a cloth soaked with the substance; and
13 WHEREAS, Use of these items as inhalants can cause dizziness,
14 breathing difficulty, heart palpitations, headaches and damage
15 to the brain, nerve cells, heart and lungs; and
16 WHEREAS, Because these products are commonly used in
17 nonharmful ways, many young people and uninformed adults do not
1 believe that sniffing or huffing inhalants can harm users or
2 that users can become addicted to the high the products induce;
3 and
4 WHEREAS, According to a recent study, 9.1% of 8th graders,
5 6.6% of 10th graders and 4.5% of 12th graders reported using
6 inhalants; and
7 WHEREAS, Public education about the dangers imposed by use of
8 inhalants is the quickest and most effective way to eradicate
9 their use; therefore be it
10 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge the people
11 of this Commonwealth to join in observing the week of March 18
12 through 24, 2007, as "National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness
13 Week" in Pennsylvania.
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