Key Piece of Legislation Allows for State Prosecution of Individuals who Drive Under the Influence of an Inhalant
May 29, 2018
By Peter Vujovich, Director, State Government Relations & Public Policy, Household & Commercial Products Association (HCPA)
While most attention in St. Paul has focused on the tension between the two political parties, legislators on both sides of the aisle came together in the last hours of session to pass a key piece of legislation which would allow the state to prosecute individuals who are driving under the influence of an inhalant.
It will seem shocking to most people that this is not already illegal. It is a loophole in the law that is all too common across the country. This year the Household & Commercial Products Association (HCPA), representing the manufacturers of many of these products, joined local law enforcement in advocating in favor of this policy change.
HCPA’s educational foundation, the Alliance for Consumer Education (ACE), educates on the dangers of product abuse through its inhalant abuse prevention program. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, over 17,000 young adults use an inhalant every day. Although ACE primarily focuses its efforts on prevention through education and awareness, the foundation also realizes the need for strong laws that reinforce how dangerous inhalant abuse can be. We see far too often the dangerous and deadly effects of huffing and driving. In addition to supporting legislation that allows the state to prosecute individuals who are driving under the influence of an inhalant, ACE also supports education to police officers to identify the warning signs of inhalant abuse for proper diagnosis and subsequent treatment.
Ensuring the products our members manufacture and sell are not abused is among the highest priorities for our industry. Many assume that inhalant abuse is a problem mainly rooted in our nation’s youth. However according to the National Institute of Health, individuals between the age of 35 and 49 are the most likely to have an inhalant abuse disorder. Legislators recognized this fact by focusing the new law on DWI statutes. The legislation passed by both chambers is a prudent first step in combating inhalant abuse in the state of Minnesota. When this legislation is presented to Governor Dayton, we respectfully ask that he promptly sign the bill and give law enforcement the tools they will need to successfully ensure consumer products are not being abused.
By Peter Vujovich, Director, State Government Relations & Public Policy, Household & Commercial Products Association (HCPA)
While most attention in St. Paul has focused on the tension between the two political parties, legislators on both sides of the aisle came together in the last hours of session to pass a key piece of legislation which would allow the state to prosecute individuals who are driving under the influence of an inhalant.
It will seem shocking to most people that this is not already illegal. It is a loophole in the law that is all too common across the country. This year the Household & Commercial Products Association (HCPA), representing the manufacturers of many of these products, joined local law enforcement in advocating in favor of this policy change.
HCPA’s educational foundation, the Alliance for Consumer Education (ACE), educates on the dangers of product abuse through its inhalant abuse prevention program. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, over 17,000 young adults use an inhalant every day. Although ACE primarily focuses its efforts on prevention through education and awareness, the foundation also realizes the need for strong laws that reinforce how dangerous inhalant abuse can be. We see far too often the dangerous and deadly effects of huffing and driving. In addition to supporting legislation that allows the state to prosecute individuals who are driving under the influence of an inhalant, ACE also supports education to police officers to identify the warning signs of inhalant abuse for proper diagnosis and subsequent treatment.
Ensuring the products our members manufacture and sell are not abused is among the highest priorities for our industry. Many assume that inhalant abuse is a problem mainly rooted in our nation’s youth. However according to the National Institute of Health, individuals between the age of 35 and 49 are the most likely to have an inhalant abuse disorder. Legislators recognized this fact by focusing the new law on DWI statutes. The legislation passed by both chambers is a prudent first step in combating inhalant abuse in the state of Minnesota. When this legislation is presented to Governor Dayton, we respectfully ask that he promptly sign the bill and give law enforcement the tools they will need to successfully ensure consumer products are not being abused.