By Aerin Curtis
The Wyoming Tribune-Eagle
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Local teens looking for a new buzz may be turning to hand sanitizer.
There have been stories for several years about people drinking the product, said Ron Kirschner with the Nebraska Regional Poison Center.
That agency covers cases in Wyoming.
But recently there have been reports, like those from California, of teenagers landing in the hospital after drinking the product.
The sanitizer, which people use to clean their hands, is about 60 percent ethyl alcohol or ethanol. That’s the same kind of alcohol found in beer or liquor.
But the amount of alcohol in the sanitizer makes it about 120 proof, Kirschner said.
“It’s not surprising that these (products) are misused by young people who are looking for alcohol,” he said. “It’s pretty strong, stronger than your typical hard liquor.”
The important thing is for parents to know of the potential for abuse of the product, Kirschner said. Especially when there can be a lot of it around the house.
“Parents may not think of hand sanitizer in that category, (so) just being aware is the main thing,” he said. "(Parents should) just kind of keep an eye it and keep an eye on what their adolescent is doing.”
There have been anecdotal stories of local teens drinking the product. But there haven’t been any official reports or anything brought to the attention of the Cheyenne Police, said School Resource Officer Colby White.
"(There’s) always a likelihood, but the hope is that most of our kids aren’t silly enough to try something like that,” White said. “I haven’t heard them talking about it.”
Drinking the sanitizer includes risks like alcohol poisoning, Kirschner said. Someone who ingests it should be watched to make sure they don’t develop trouble breathing, he added.
“In the worst case scenario, you might have to have help with their breathing,” he said. “But (that’s) not usually necessary.”
Teen or people who don’t drink regularly would be more susceptible to the side effects than regular drinkers, he said.
In past years teens abused similar products, like alcohol-based mouthwash, Kirschner said. But those products carry a lesser alcohol content, he added.
Said White, “My advice would be (for students) to talk with their parents or a counselor or school resource officer so we can explain to them why it wouldn’t be worthwhile (to) drink hand sanitizer.”
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