Use of inhalants by young girls appears to be increasing even though "huffing" by adolescent boys seems to be remaining static, according to a new report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

SAMHSA reported that about 5 percent of girls ages 12-17 reported using inhalants in 2005, up from 4.1 percent in 2002. About 4.2 percent of boys reported using inhalants, a figure basically unchanged during the study period.

"When it comes to huffing at the youngest ages, more girls than boys are misusing common household products to get a fast, inexpensive, temporary 'high,'" said Harvey Weiss, executive director of the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition. "Among new inhalant initiates, girls start huffing at a much earlier age than boys.  This means that parents, health care professionals and educators must start talking with preteen girls about the dangers of inhalants before it is too late."

Researchers estimated that 1.1 million U.S. youths inhaled household products to get high in 2005. Overall numbers of first-time young inhalant users remained steady, according to the report, Patterns and Trends in Inhalant Use by Adolescent Males and Females: 2002-2005.

The study also found that while use of nitrous oxide and "whippets" seemed to be declining, aerosol sprays seem to be getting more popular among inhalant users.