A Wasted Breath: Kids On Inhalants

A follow-up to last year's Inhalant Abuse: Kids in Danger/Adults in the Dark (reviewed in the October 1991 issue), A Wasted Breath: Kids on Inhalants was created in response to requests for a program that kids themselves could watch (the earlier program--aimed at adults--had descriptions of how kids actually use inhalants). In fact, some of the same sequences that appeared in the earlier film also appear here. The difference is that, whereas the first program offered a lot of hard hitting information about the realities of inhalant abuse, this program is more of a series of interviews with kids who advise viewers not to make the same mistakes they did. While there is nothing intrinsically wrong with this approach, the film really comes across as a watered-down remake of the earlier effort, and one that is less focused to boot. On the plus side, however, the program does offer credible warnings to kids who may not be aware of the dangers (which can be lethal) of inhalant abuse. For this, the program is recommended, though it is really more suited to elementary and junior high-level Health classes. (Available from: Media Projects, Inc., 5215 Homer St., Dallas, TX 75206; (214) 826-3863.)