Reasons for Inhalant Use

Abstract

The reasons for initiation and quitting toxicant inhalant drug use were examined in a sample of 110 Mexican American adolescents. Results supported the etiological importance of availability, psychologicalproneness, sensation-seeking and curiosity, parental and home problems, and peer influences. In this sample, however, the role of parental problems and peer influences in starting inhalant use were not as influential as the literature suggests for initial use of other drugs. Availability was not considered an important reason for quitting inhalant use, but social pressures, attitudinal changes, and perceived health risks were important.