Two drug abuse prevention groups are asking their members to complain about the presence of videos showing people using inhalants on the popular video-sharing website YouTube, USA Today reported Dec. 8.

The National Inhalant Prevention Coalition (NIPC) and Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) have asked their members to contact YouTube about dozens of unflagged "huffing" videos that are viewable on the website, which maintains few restrictions on content. NIPC also has posted public service announcements on YouTube to highlight the dangers of using inhalants such as cleaning sprays and air fresheners.

The concerns expressed by these two prevention groups call attention to the unregulated exchange of information on websites and the issues of free speech and websites' responsibility to monitor content.

"We don't believe this is about censorship," said CADCA Chairman and CEO Arthur Dean. "We believe that YouTube has some civic responsibility. We are very concerned that some of these videos show kids how to use inhalants."

YouTube officials declined to be interviewed by the newspaper, but stated in an e-mail that the company does not allow "videos showing dangerous or illegal acts, which is clearly stated in the community guidelines on the site."

One YouTube video, showing a young adult appearing to squirt air freshener into his nose, is preceded by a message warning that the video may contain content inappropriate for some viewers. Yet this warning does not appear with several other similar videos, including one in which a teenage girl inhales a canned cleaning spray and says, "I am Satan."