Sniffing Markers Destroys Your Brain Sniffing Markers Destroys Your Brain

Contributor(s): Texas Prevention Partnership The History of Medicine Division. Prints and Photographs Collection Publication: Texas Prevention Partnership, 1991 Language(s): English Format: Still image Subject(s): Inhalation Exposure Public Health Genre(s): Archival Materials Posters Slides (photographs) Abstract: This poster is part of a series in a very different kind of public health campaign inspired by toxic chemicals. Created by the Texas Prevention Partnership (TPP), which was founded in 1990 by the Entertainment Industries Council and Harvey Weiss, the posters address the alarming trend of "huffing"--the inhaling of CFCs, Freon, household cleaning products, and other toxic chemicals for a quick high. At the time, inhalant abuse was gaining popularity at a staggering rate in the state of Texas and surrounding areas. Following a massive campaign that included the distribution of bilingual posters and radio and television public service announcements, Texas saw an immediate decline in the number of deaths from inhalant abuse, and between 1990 and 1994 there was a reduction of more than 32 percent in elementary school inhalant use and a reduction of about 20 percent at the high school level. This work inspired TPP to found and lead the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition.. The adolescent boy in this photograph is distinguished by the red magic marker scribbled on his forehead. The image works effectively as a visual representation of the textual message in the title, which warns plainly, "Sniffing markers destroys your brain." Accompanied by the caption, "Sniffing stuff like spray paint or markers can cause brain damage, lung damage, even death," the poster succinctly and symbolically expresses the risks associated with the inhalant. Copyright: This item may be under copyright protection; contact the copyright owner for permission before re-use. Extent: 1 pages NLM Unique ID: 101584655X47 (See in Profiles in Science) Profiles in Science ID: VCBBDK Permanent Link: http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/101584655X47 Archival Collection: Visual Culture and Health Posters (Profiles in Science)