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Statistics

According to the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), approximately 22.9 million Americans aged 12 or older reported using inhalants at least once during their lifetimes, representing 9.3% of the population aged 12 or older. Nearly 2.2 million (0.9%) reported past year inhalant use and 761,000 (0.3%) reported past month inhalant use. (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings, September 2007)

In 2006, there were 783,000 persons aged 12 or older who had used inhalants for the first time within the past 12 months; 77.2% were under age 18 when they first used. The average age at first use among recent initiates aged 12 to 49 was 15.7 years in 2006. There was no significant change in the number of inhalant initiates or the average age at first use from 2005 to 2006. . (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings, September 2007)

Among students surveyed as part of the 2007 Monitoring the Future study, 15.6% of eighth graders, 13.6% of tenth graders, and 10.5% of twelfth graders reported lifetime use of inhalants. (National Institute on Drug Abuse and University of Michigan, 2007 Monitoring the Future Study Drug Data Tables, December 2007)

Percent of Students Reporting Inhalant Use, 2007
	8th Grade	10th Grade	12th Grade
Past month	3.9%	2.5%	1.2%
Past year	8.3	6.6	3.7
Lifetime	15.6	13.6	10.5

Approximately 35.9% of eighth graders and 43.0% of tenth graders surveyed in 2007 reported that trying inhalants once or twice was a “great risk.” (National Institute on Drug Abuse and University of Michigan, 2007 Monitoring the Future Study Drug Data Tables, December 2007)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also conducts a survey of high school students throughout the United States called the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS). Among students surveyed for the 2005 YRBSS, 12.4% reported using inhalants at least one time during their lifetimes (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States, 2005, June 2006)

Percent of Students Reporting Lifetime Inhalant Use, 2001–2005
	2001	2003	2005
9th grade	17.4%	13.6%	14.1%
10th grade	14.0	11.1	13.2
11th grade	13.8	11.0	11.4
12th grade	12.5	11.8	10.1
Total	14.7	12.1	12.4

Approximately 7.4% of college students and 10.9% of young adults (ages 19–28) surveyed in 2006 reported lifetime use of inhalants (National Institute on Drug Abuse and University of Michigan, Monitoring the Future National Survey Results on Drug Use, 1975-2006, Volume II: College Students & Adults Ages 19-45 (PDF), 2007)

Percent of College Students/Young Adults Reporting Inhalant Use, 2005–2006
	College Students		Young Adults
	2005	2006	2005	2006
Past month	0.3%	0.4%	0.2%	0.2%
Past year	1.8	1.5	1.3	1.3
Lifetime	7.1	7.4	10.3	10.9

According to data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, approximately 13.6% of State prisoners and 7.5% of Federal prisoners surveyed in 2004 indicated that they used inhalants at some point in their lives. (Bureau of Justice Statistics, Drug Use and Dependence, State and Federal Prisoners, 2004, October 2006)

Percent of Prisoners Reporting Inhalant Use, 1997 and 2004
	State Prisoners		Federal Prisoners
	1997	2004	1997	2004
In month before offense	1.0%	1.0%	0.5%	0.8%
Regularly*	5.4	4.5	2.6	3.0
Ever in lifetime	14.4	13.6	7.7	7.5
* Used drugs at least once a week for at least a month.