Take a breath, a senseless death

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Shane Riza
  • 14th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron commander
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq --  I hope the subject got your attention. As many of you have already heard, we lost a servicemember here recently - a senseless death that left a young family without a husband and father. Results of the autopsy revealed he was huffing.

Huffing is a term for inhaling chemicals (such as vapors from aerosols, paint, and other products) intended to deprive the brain of oxygen and create a brief sense of euphoria. Many of these products are readily available, the latest trend being canned, compressed air. The chemicals in these products attack the central nervous system and have in many cases induced heart failure. Deaths from huffing are now referred to as sudden sniffing death syndrome. This is a serious threat; surveys show military members are more likely to engage in this activity than their civilian counterparts. It cuts across rank and gender. Since 1998, 47 members of the armed forces, including an Army O-6, have died from huffing; 20 percent of these deaths were either in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom.

It is rare in any substance abuse case - and make no mistake this is substance abuse - for there to be no warning signs leading up to such catastrophic events such as those that occurred here at Joint Base Balad when one of our own took his last breath lying on the floor of his pod far away from the family who loved him. Such actions are a personal choice, and his was a poor one. But for those who may know of individuals taking part in these activities, you have a choice to make too. If you turn away and do nothing, you may never have to deal with it again ... then again you may have to live with that decision for the rest of your life after the life you might have saved has ended.

As I may have told you before, I don't believe in ethical dilemmas. There are only decisions in varying degrees of difficulty. If you are taking part in this activity or you know someone who is, you face one of those difficult decisions. I urge you - I beg you - to seek help or to let someone in the chain of command know. Intervention can save lives. Huffing, or letting it go on around you, is a risk we do not have to take; it's a risk that simply isn't worth it. Each of you is far too valuable to this team, our Air Force, and your nation to lose you in such a senseless way.

Please...if you are involved or know someone who is, contact your Chaplain, a friend, a senior noncommissioned officer, the Shirt, your supervisor, a medical professional - anyone! Let's not let this happen again on our watch.