Inhalants! Or by its common term, snorting. Huffing is a rapidly growing problem among our youth and military members. They are using common chemicals found in our homes, schools and workplaces to achieve a very dangerous high. From the information you are about to hear you will be able to better understand and become aware of what huffing abuse is, what the symptoms are and what the consequences of the abuse are. Inhalant abuse is extremely dangerous, as parents and military leaders we must educate ourselves to learn the warning signs. First we need to understand what classifies an inhalant and then we can improve our understanding of what to watch out for. Warning signs of inhalants might include constantly running out of a specialized cleaner, always having to refill the gas tank for your lawn equipment, or never finding your freshly purchased canned whipped cream. According to Teen Health (2010), inhalants are classified into four categories; volatile solvents, aerosols, gases and nitrites (used as sexual stimulants). Substances that fall into these categories are items such as paint thinner and markers; spray paint and hairspray; canned whipped cream (nitrous oxide) and coolant. According to Neuroscience for Kids (n.d.), “Nitrous oxide was discovered in 1776 by Sir Joseph Priestley and in 1799; Sir Humphrey Davy suggested that nitrous oxide could be used during surgery to reduce pain. As you can see, inhalants are not something new. When I was young, I had a good friend who liked to take inhalants because they were readily available and give a quick and cheap effect. His favorite inhalant was gasoline and permanent markers; the method he used to get high was to snort... in the middle of a sheet of paper... and the effects of using inhalants to get high. Without the education they need, we are setting them up for disappointment and failing in our mission to create a better future. In conclusion, we need to be more informed about what is happening in the drug world so that we can have a better defense of our children and subordinates. Being in the military and constantly receiving training on such issues has made it public knowledge, but parents and teachers need to understand and be better educated about what is happening to our children and perhaps even our co-workers. The Department of Defense and state officials have recognized the problems of inhalant abuse and have enacted laws to combat this problem. So, to be able to prevent or help someone who abuses, it is crucial to understand the warning signs and side effects of inhalant abuse..