The Garden City Telegram
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Two to be charged in huffing incident
Published 2/18/2009 in News : Police
By the Telegram
The Finney County Attorney's Office will be filing charges against two 14-year-olds who allegedly were huffing with a large group of students at Kenneth Henderson Middle School.
The two students are charged with allegations of abuse of toxic vapors, said Assistant County Attorney Lara Blake Bors. Their names will not be released because they are being charged in juvenile court.
Garden City police were notified in mid-January by school staff about numerous incidents of students caught inhaling computer keyboard cleaner at the school, 2406 N. Fleming St. Police said the students were huffing in the boys' and girls' bathrooms, as well as on a school bus. Police believe the incidents took place on numerous occasions between Jan. 12 and 16, they said. At least one student who was examined by a school nurse displayed symptoms of huffing, and one student passed out on the school bus, police had said.
Only two of the students of a group of 14 will be charged. Blake Bors said the dozen other minors younger than 14 and allegedly involved in the illegal, sometimes fatal activity will undergo educational meetings about the ramifications of huffing through Programs Assessment Treatment Habilitation, she said.
"(The two students being charged) have unique circumstances," Bors said. "Beyond that, I can't discuss the details because it's still an open case."
Huffing on school grounds is a level four infraction in the school behavior code, Roy Cessna, spokesman for USD 457, has said. Cessna did not release information about the students' possible punishment but had said that generally the infraction means students could be subject to suspension or expulsion.
While huffing, a user can suffer from Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome, which means he or she can die the first, 10th or 100th time he or she uses an inhalant. Signs of abuse include the following: paint or stains on body or clothing; spots or sores around the mouth; red or runny eyes or nose; chemical breath odor; drunk, dazed or dizzy appearance; nausea, loss of appetite; and anxiety, excitability and irritability. Effects of huffing include damage to the heart, kidney, brain, liver, bone marrow and other organs. Results similar to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome also may occur when inhalants are used during pregnancy. Inhalants are physically and psychologically addicting, and users suffer withdrawal symptoms.
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