BILL NUMBER: S8156
SPONSOR: PERSAUD
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law and the general business law, in
relation to prohibiting the sale of certain hazardous inhalants to
persons under the age of twenty-one
 
PURPOSE:
To prohibit young people from purchasing dangerous and addictive
substances, and to discourage use into later adulthood.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill amends subdivision 4 of section 3380 of the public
health law to add a new paragraph (c), which would prohibit the sale of
hazardous inhalants to persons under the age of twenty-one. However,
such prohibition would not apply to the inhalation of any anesthesia or
inhalant for medical or dental purposes, or where permitted under para-
graph (b) of the subdivision, which allows the purchase of glues when a
sufficient additive to deter inhalation is contained.
Section 2 of the bill amends the general business law to add a new
section 399-hhhh, which would prohibit the sale of hazardous inhalants,
as defined by section 3380 of the public health law, to persons under
the age of twenty-one, except where permitted by such section. The
section also requires sellers of hazardous inhalants to demand identifi-
cation of a buyer that appears under the age of thirty.
Section 3 of the bill sets the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
According to the FDA, nitrite products or, more commonly, "poppers,"
often contain chemicals such as amyl nitrite, which are typically found
in prescription medications. However, because "poppers" are often
marketed as nail polish remover or a cleaning product and thus "not for
human consumption," an individual of any age can purchase them readily
at corner stores, convenience stores, and adult novelty stores. When
inhaled or huffed, as they typically are, "poppers" can cause skin
damage, extreme blood pressure drops, seizures, coma, and even death.
A product with such great dangers should not be able to be attained by
our young and vulnerable, who similarly cannot purchase alcohol, ciga-
rettes, and many more substances. Moreover, by keeping it out of the
hands of young people, we discourage later adult use, as research shows
across substances that addiction potential is greatest when use begins
early.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPACT ON THE STATE:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law.