'Huffing' blamed for death in parking lot

news@thefranklinpress.com

A Franklin woman was found dead in her truck Tuesday afternoon, the apparent victim of a deadly practice called "huffing."

According to Franklin Police Lt. Danny Bates, police officers and EMS personnel arrived at the Holly Springs Shopping Center Sept. 23 at about 12:50 p.m. after a passerby noticed Julie Nan Miller, 47, of 55 Gordon Trl., slumped over in the cab of her 2000 Ford F-150 pickup.

"The initial call was about an individual in a vehicle with a possible medical problem," Bates said. "Upon arrival officers found the doors to the truck locked. Officers then made entry into the vehicle and discovered that the victim was deceased."

Several cans of an aerosol product were found in the truck.

"She had apparently bought several cans of the product and then inhaled them in the vehicle in the parking lot," Bates said.

While Bates said autopsy results would not be available immediately, Miller appears to have died from inhaling too much of the aerosol product.

The National Drug Intelligence Center, an element of the U.S. Department of Justice says that the abuse of inhalants or huffing is widespread across the country.

The NDIC website says abusers, primarily adolescents, inhale chemical vapors from a variety of substances, many of which are common household products. These young people abuse inhalants in order to obtain a euphoric effect and are often unaware of the potential risks, which include brain damage and death. Some adults also abuse inhalants, particularly nitrites. Adult abusers often inhale substances in order to enhance their sexual experiences.

The websites also suggest that death from inhalant abuse can occur after a single use or after prolonged use. Sudden sniffing death (SSD) may result within minutes of inhalant abuse from irregular heart rhythm leading to heart failure. Other causes of death include asphyxiation, aspiration, or suffocation. A user who is suffering from impaired judgment may also experience fatal injuries from motor vehicle accidents or sudden falls.

"This is a dangerous practice that can be deadly," Bates said. "While the victim in this case was an adult, we want parents to know that they need to be aware of this and know what to look for."

For more information on inhalant abuse and how to prevent it visit the National Institute on Drug Abuse website at http://www.inhalants.drugabuse.gov.