LEWISTON — Healthy Androscoggin, in partnership with the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative, will host a free parent training for anyone in Androscoggin County called “Inhalants: It’s Right Under Your Nose.”

The session will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 3, at the Lewiston High School, Room B109. The class will be presented by Rebecca Miller from New England Poison Control.

There are hundreds of products on the market that are legally sold for functional purposes, such as glue, nail polish remover, cleaning fluids, hair spray, gasoline, the propellant in aerosol whipped cream, spray paint, fabric protector, air conditioner fluid, cooking spray and correction fluid, that are inhaled or sniffed by children or teens to get high.

Within seconds of inhalation, the user will feel effects similar to those produced by alcohol, including slurred speech, an inability to coordinate movements, dizziness, confusion and delirium. Nausea and vomiting are other common side effects. However, because intoxication lasts only a few minutes, abusers may continue to inhale repeatedly over the course of several hours, thus increasing their risk of loss of consciousness or death.

In Androscoggin County, the rate of inhalant use among eighth-, ninth- and 10th-graders has been steadily increasing. All are welcome to attend the session to learn more about this trend and work to prevent youth from abusing inhalants.

For more information, call 795-2506 or visit www.healthyandroscoggin.org.