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Help me NOW!  

post #1 of 55
8/27/06 at 4:58pm
Thread Starter 
Is there a way to get high with a broken lighter???

This is the third time I've found broken lighters...the front part is broken off so it doesn't light...it just hisses out beutain??? What is this about??

I thought ds (12yrs) was just fooling around with one...him and his friends had fire-crackers(yes...grounded from that!) but now I found another under his bed.

I'm freaking...help me stop hyperventalating!

What do you think?
post #2 of 55
8/27/06 at 5:01pm
Quote:
They're young, they're curious, and willing to try many ways to get high. One way kids are trying is by inhaling ordinary household products – either by sniffing (through the nose) or huffing (through the mouth). Experts claim up to 1000 household products can be used as "inhalants"—airplane glue, rubber cement, paint thinner, nail polish remover, bleach, kerosene, felt tip markers, butane, gasoline, dry cleaning fluid, spot remover, vegetable cooking spray, and propane. And parents often don't know about it.
http://www.mediacampaign.org/inhalan...inhalants.html

I dont know what to tell you but have you asked him about it??
post #3 of 55
8/27/06 at 5:04pm
http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/0908.html


Looks like it's possible that's what he's doing, but I'd talk to him before you get more worried about it, could be something altogether different.
post #4 of 55
8/27/06 at 5:05pm
Yikes! I couldn't read and not post. ! I hope that it's nothing..
post #5 of 55
8/27/06 at 5:06pm
Yeah I've been doing more reading and it is very possible. Apparently it's common "high" because lighters are cheap.

post #6 of 55
8/27/06 at 5:08pm
I think you need to have a talk with your DS and explain your concerns in as non-acusatory a way as possible. There are signs he's huffing/sniffing, it can be FATAL, and you're worried about him. You may want to bring him to a mental health professional- this might be "normal" adolescent exploration or there could be serious underlying issues.
post #7 of 55
8/27/06 at 5:12pm
Thread Starter 
I'm fking freaking out you guys.

He has been sick with a sore throat and swollen glands. And just not looking himself...
post #8 of 55
8/27/06 at 5:21pm
Call his dr. Tell DS you're just having his sore throat and swollen glands checked out (if you think he might resist going to the dr otherwise,) but be sure to let the dr know about your suspicions.
post #9 of 55
8/27/06 at 5:22pm
Sorry but it is very possible that this is what is going on. I had freinds that use to do this in high school.
post #10 of 55
8/27/06 at 5:32pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by momma2girls
Sorry but it is very possible that this is what is going on. I had freinds that use to do this in high school.
did they take the front part of the lighter off?



I'm a total spaz. So I cleaned everything out from under his bed and found a jar with some crystallly substance in the bottom. I was shaking and feeling like I was gonna barf. It didn't smell like anything so I tasted it. It was fucking icetea crystals! Comic relief.
post #11 of 55
8/27/06 at 5:35pm
thank god for comic relief!!! keep us posted!
post #12 of 55
8/27/06 at 5:59pm
Thread Starter 
just found 2 more hidden in a drawer.


dh and ds are at a movie right now so i'm left to obsess alone!
post #13 of 55
8/27/06 at 6:01pm
Oh man!

Can you talk to him about it? Can you read him really well or is he likely to tell you the truth?

That is really scary. Man, now I just want my kids to stay babies!! I'm sorry, I know I would be freaking out too!
post #14 of 55
8/27/06 at 6:05pm
I'd say that 1. if you think it's happening, it probably is, your gut wouldn't steer you wrong. 2. finding lighters hidden is a sure sign he's either huffing or he's smoking, niether of which are okay for a 12 year old to do.

I'm so sorry, mama. I have no personal experience, my cousin was a drug user at age 15, but I was like 12 and 13 back then, so I never was there for the confrontation or any of that. I will tell you he is a business owner, married with 2 children, and has been clean for almost 20 years now. So while using is awful yes, it isn't the end of the world, you can pull him back. It will be okay. Deep breaths, mama.
post #15 of 55
8/27/06 at 6:10pm
i agree about trip to the dr and tell your son its about glands, tell the dr you are worried about huffing stuff, and ask the dr to call you later or something to tell you if it looks like signs of drug use.

i am so so so sorry that is so worrysome. try if you can to be calm so you can think clearly ... keep typing here if you need to work out some thoughts...that helps me alot....

eta: then, after the dr trip you can decide what you want to say to ds, because you might have more evidence and if he lies about it you will know more certainly he is lying.
post #16 of 55
8/27/06 at 6:10pm
My first thought was that he was just dismantling lighters for fun. Like, in our house we're going to have to have rules about when kids can play with matches because a "don't play with matches" rule will be almost instantly destroyed by dh.

I'd take a "I found these in your room, the stuff inside is toxic, and you should only play with these things in a well-ventilated area and with one of us present. Oh, yes, you've been looking ill so we're going to the doctor." approach.
post #17 of 55
8/27/06 at 6:13pm
wow, sapphire thats even better. i am just re-chiming in to say yeah, that.
post #18 of 55
8/27/06 at 6:34pm
Thread Starter 
except that I don't know why a seemingly intelligent kid would buy lighters just to take them apart. Doesn't seem like his style. I have this pit in my gut. I'm waiting for his friends mom to call me back. I'm going to tell her about it and see if she's noticed things too.
post #19 of 55
8/27/06 at 6:45pm
Ohh pinkmilk that doesn't sound good...I'm so sorry. I hope everything is okay with your child. Keep us posted.
post #20 of 55
8/27/06 at 6:48pm
couldn't read without sending a hug your way.

i'm sitting here with two destroyrd lighters at the desk in front of me btw. and its just my silly destructive dh trying to fix a crappy broken lighter. so it could be nothing. lighters are often defective. they're so cheap that sometimes you just tear them apart trying to fix them or rig them so the flame goes really high.

do trust your gut though. it won't hurt anything to ask a few questions.
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