have you checked to see if you can have them drug tested for that (i honestly dont know if you can). but since you can smell it on their breathes i would assume that they are doing it. I personally would not let them go anywhere, taken to school, and then straight home from school. you can even pull up dangers/videos ect on the internet to scare them straight out of it. i dont have any kids, but i know that being scarred out of something usually works.

I would try to get them into a residential counseling program AT ONCE.   This is extremely dangerous for them and they need immediate intervention.  Good luck.

Audrey hit ithe nail on the head. They need to go immediately to a program.  I'm sure you all heard the story of Dr. Heiss's son who was huffing something, years ago and died. I think he was 12.  This is a very serious problem for these young boys wanting to get high.

Michele

That's exactly who I was thinking of.  It sure left an impression on me.

Thank goodness you are alert to this, alc.  Many parents would be totally clueless that this kind of activity was going on. 

Take your boys for a visit to the morgue, so that they can see where they might wind up if they keep on huffing.

If Dr. Heiss will talk to them, that may help, too.  It really affected me when I read the account of his son dying from huffing.  So, so sad . . .

I'm not sure Dr Heiss is in town anymore.  He used to lecture on the dangers of huffing.

You might also talk to a D.A.R.E. officer.  Both of your boys may have already gone through the D.A.R.E. program if you've lived in BFL for a while.  I worked in a sixth grade classroom this year, and the students were shown a video that included the dangers of huffing.  I'm pretty sure Dr. Heiss was in it.  (Audrey -- You may be right.  I honestly don't know if Dr. Heiss still lives here or not.)

My oldest brother, a drug addict, started out huffing gas with his buddies. They would hang out by my grandpa's truck and huff gas when they thought no one was looking. Out of that group of 5, 2 later died of drug overdoses, the other three are in and out of jail over the past 20 years. It seems to be a gateway drug to other things. I wish I had some advice since I saw my brother go down an ugly path.

And warn them, NO MATTER WHAT, don't smoke when they have been huffing gas!

Jsfrancais

I asked another blogger this question once.  Maybe you can give me your thoughts on it too.

Do you think the gas was a gateway drug or do you think the personality of the person taking the drugs was the major  factor. 

I heard once that cigarette smokers (though stupid for smoking) showed a inclination to be more adventurous than non smokers.   They were more willing to try something new.  Maybe that's true of people who are willing to try drugs too.

The above advice is 100% right. The boys need immediate professional intervention.

Back then a  foster boy was placed with us that was removed from Dr Heiss's home right after the incident..he had lived with them for quit awhile and the whole thing was pretty much a mind bender for him to get over..Every once in awhile Id catch him getting silent and his eyes would water up..then he would share some memorys of when he lived with them..He really loved that family..and looked up to Dr Heiss..I dont think he ever got over it because they were good buddys and he was right there witnessing the whole sad incident.. He said the boy had been doing it for awhile before the accident and it really surprised all the young friends that knew of his habit that a life could be cut short so quick..These kids just dont realize how precious life really is at that age.

I would definitley do some internvening immediately. As a matter of fact now that you have posted this you are mandated by law to report it and take whatever action they instruct you  to do because if one of the boys dies??? You will not only have the unbearable guilt to deal with but also face the legal aspects. Sorry your havin to go through this but atleast you caught it while they can still be helped

souix, there is no California law mandating that parents report the fact that they discovered their boys were huffing gas.  And report it to who? Why would you give them such inaccurate information?

Audrey Im not Jsfrancais but Ill give it a shot. I grew up in the drug crazed hippy area and was around alot of experimental drug use..lost a few friends back then and have watched many go to prison over same..Not that i consider myself an expert but dealing with foster cases etc heres my thoughts..I feel that drugs are drugs...I dont fall for the gateway excuse..

if the person taking them has a bad experience they probably wont continue experimenting so its not like your doomed if it enters your system. But if you enjoy the result and run with a crowd that encourages the next buzz .ya dont stand much a chance in turning the other cheek. Peer pressure has alot to do with it too. So I guess Im trying to say.. my guess is its the persons personality that makes them snort that next line..People will usually play with it in their teens and early 20's but if it continues past that you gotta admit to yourself that you have an addiction going on..and ya better get help before your life comes crashing down around you..especially if you dont have the strength to do it yourself...responsibiltys like a good woman and a couple kids usually has enough of a sobbering effect to straighten out about 80% of the bad boys out there..I hope I answered your question

Sioux

My daughter went to school with the older brother.  According to her,  all their friends begged the the kid to quit huffing.   They could see he was headed for trouble.  He was so young he apparently didn't realize the danger.

The kids lived  (part time) two houses down from my sister's family.  They were handsome, lively  boys with a lot of potential.  It's such a sad shame.   It tore the family apart I guess.

Thanks Sioux

That's kind of my feeling too.  I started smoking at 17 and it had everything to do with who I was and nothing to do with tobacco.

Sorry but anytime you know of a situation that can prove harmful to a child and possibly resulting in death it is your responsibilty to take that next step. where do you come off with this crap..If they have a question on how to handle it they can contact that little building down on the corner of union and California ave.. ask for the social services department

and WHY would you counsel them not too just too look like your in "THE KNOW" Im sorry I didnt realize school teachers also have law degrees..tell ya what..why dont you call down there and tell them the situation ya might add your a school teacher and ya know everything and ya dont agree that it should be reported Im not saying they need to be locked up but they definitley need counciling and monitoring and he can find help there...

souix, relax. You said that since they posted this, they are mandated by law to report it. That is WRONG. Do they have a responsibility as parents to deal with it? Of course. Go make yourself a margarita....

about alcohol,

I agree with Audrey. Take them to counseling and/or a psychiatrist asap to determing how much of a problem it is.  You guys are great parents, but sometimes kids will be more open with somebody who isn't their relative.  Kids are just like adults.  Sometimes they abuse substances to fill a  void, deal with anxiety, or combat boredom. Kids probably get into the huffing because they can't buy alcohol or tobacco, yet.  When I was in high school it was easier to buy weed than alcohol. 

Don't call the cops. Your kids will never trust you again. Scared straight, doesn't work.

Residential counseling depends on who it's with. There were gang members huffing gas at the Shafter Teen Challenge.

Been there done that !!!! not huffing gas but other stuff.  All I have to say is "TOUGH LOVE"  start it now

Mandated Reporters

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

Unfortunately, #1..programs are geared for people in addicton.   #2..The programs in this area don't accept people under 18 years of age unless they have a co-occuring disorder.  (Good Sam)

The REALLY sad part is that Bakersfield doen't have treatment programs as such for kids.  I've often railed about it and have many a grieving mother call me to ask where they could get help for their 14-15 year old child.  It's pretty damn sad when I have to tell her there's really no help for your child.  Private therapists are great, if one has insurance or can afford to pay for them.

Nancy-if these kids/parents wanted to seek help besides Good Sam, would Memorial Center on White Ln be able to help them out?

They need some professional help. Take them to the doctor and let the dr. explain the risks. You know us parents know nothing. If they were my sons I would watch their every move. You need to be on them like flies on sh**. Make sure a parent is at home when they come from school. Make sure they know you are watching them. Make sure they are randomly drug tested. I will tell you this... make sure they know you care and love them. I would try all of the above steps before I locked them up.

Is there an age limit for gas?

That is unbelievably sad Nancy! Is their a Alcoholic Anonymous type group for teens? Or Al-anon(?),I wish I could help or give better advice. I went through it all with the eldest,tried everything....took me telling him to never darken my door again. He straightened up,but we never reconciled and died from natural causes 1 year later.

I wish you and yours nothing but the best~ good luck!

One thing for sure is that YOU need to make a call, and if it's not the right agency, see if they can point you in the right direction...but the time for intervention is NOW....because we all know the end result if this continues.....

I think you're right about the gateway drug thing. It's a cliche term. I honestly think that my brother just tried it and really liked the effects drugs had on him. It's not the drug's fault. People make conscious decisions (in most cases) to use drugs. Whether they're hooked or not is a consequence of their actions. There are people that have tried drugs and left it alone. I don't think drugs "suck" every person into that lifestyle who experiments with it.

Good point Timec

Spray paint and sudafed are now locked away from public access.  Maybe gas should be too.

My ex-husband's cousin's 13-year old son was huffing gasoline from a bowl.  He passed out into the bowl, and drowned in gasoline.  Not a nice way to go.  If locking them in their rooms until they're 40 is the only solution, then do it.  Do whatever it takes to help these boys, and DO IT NOW!!  Don't wait a few weeks, or a month....that may be too late.

Michele, Memorial Center (Catholic Health Care) was bought out by Dr. Monahri (spelling may be off) who owns Good Samaritan Hospital.  Charter turned Memorial Center is now Good Sam.  I did a year and a half internship there.  It's a great place.

Sage, the only thing I know of for kids is Alateen and it's geared, like Alanon, as a support system for families of alcoholics.  Some churchs have recovery programs so that would be the place to look.

Gateway drug.  BIG misunderstanding about the term and it's possible effects.  No one is claiming it truns anyone into anything.  Since alcohol and marijuana are usually the first drugs kids try they are called gateway drugs because they knock out the part of the brain where people make rational decision.  That makes it easier to say yes to other drugs such as meth.  That's all.  Not everyone who uses marijuana or alcohol will become an addict or alcoholic..no one ever claimed they do.  The kids are more LIKELY to abuse AOD.  What gets me is the way people get almost hysterical when you mention gateway drugs because they don't have a clue what the term actually means and it doesn't matter how many times I explain it.  Ask an addict.  Ask somone who progressed from alcohol and marijuana to almost everything in the book.

Ask motopoet on here, he's always willing to share his story and there are thousands out there just like him.

When I was about 5 years old I loved the smell of gasoline.  I would climb up on the hood of my uncles car and sniff it from the gas tank.  Once I went too far and fell off the hood.  I had trouble getting up and the world was spinning.  Even at 5 years old  I realized that this was bad and did not do it any more.  Random would probably say that's why I am a dumb Republican and watch Fox News.