ALERT: Parents should check teen bedrooms for trend after death of Irish girl
Professor Bobby Smyth is a psychiatrist dealing with teenagers in addiction and he is encouraging parents to "be curious" following the death of a 14-year-old girl
A psychiatrist who works with teenagers in addiction is urging parents to "be curious" about aerosol inhalation following the death of a 14-year-old girl in Co. Clare.
Professor Bobby Smyth said he has seen young teenagers coming to him for help because of an issue with inhaling aerosols.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1's Morning Ireland, Professor Smyth said it was generally teenagers of a younger nature who had just started secondary school that are inhaling aerosols.
“It produces a short intoxication effect which is probably quite like alcohol. It has a very quick onset but only lasts a few minutes as well,” he said.
His guess is that children are seeing this behaviour on social media and then getting curious themselves and trying it out.
“For the majority of teenagers, it is more of a bit of a fad. It’s just something that they do on an experimental basis,” Professor Smyth added.
However, even just trying it one time can be fatal.
“When solvents or aerosols are inhaled in this way it can irritate the vagus nerve in your throat. The vagus nerve travels down to your heart and it can cause an irregular heartbeat which can cause a cardiac arrest,” Professor Smyth said.
Although, death from inhaling aerosols is rare, it can happen.
This was the case with a Co. Clare teenager named Sarah Mescal who died from fatal brain damage after inhaling the spray from a can of deodorant.
Professor Smyth said a case like this happens "randomly and tragically."
If parents are curious about whether their child is taking part in this behaviour, Professor Smyth says to keep an eye out for empty aerosols in their bedroom or around the house.
He also said it's important to note how often teenagers are asking for aerosols to be bought for them.
Most importantly, he has advised parents to "be curious" about what teenagers are doing and seeing online and to ask them questions about it.