'Huffing' killing some of our kids

No parent should have to bury his or her child, but that tragic outcome plays out far too often.

This week the death of a 17-year-old girl at a park in Christchurch was reported. Police said she might have been "huffing" butane as part of a group.

Two Mosgiel teenagers suffered critical injuries last month when an LPG cylinder they were believed to have been "huffing" from exploded.

Yesterday Rotorua Coroner Wallace Bain, at an inquest into the death of a 16-year-old boy, declared: "We must address this evil."

The coroner reserved his finding into the death, but it's thought the teenager may have died after "huffing" from a cigarette lighter or can of deodorant spray.

The boy's family told The Daily Post: "People need to be aware our kids are dying from this."

And with extensive media coverage of the issue this week, we can hope teens and parents have a much greater understanding of the dangers of these otherwise-everyday objects. The inquest heard as little as one "huff" can be fatal.

Please take note of our front-page article, particularly the indicators of solvent abuse. Yes, every teen goes through major emotional and physical changes, and it may be hard to distinguish sometimes from other irregular behaviour. But it's vital that friends and family don't miss the signs.

As the grieving Rotorua family said yesterday, parents need to keep an eye on what their kids are getting up to. They now know all too well the tragic consequences of what their son may have done.

What do you think?

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