Mitch Newman.

We've all been in a similar situation before. While walking down an empty hallway at Shores, we see an acquaintance or complete stranger walking toward us. Most of us, not knowing what to say, duck our heads and pretend we didn't see the other person at all. But there are some students, who, despite knowing the other person or not, smile and wave, perhaps even stop to inquire about the stranger's day. These are the type of students who genuinely care about others and who will go out of their way to help another person, expecting nothing in return.

Mitch Newman, a 2006 graduate, was that type of student.

With a smile constantly on his face and a completely selfless and goofy attitude, Mitch was well-known within Shores. His rendition of the Beastie Boys hit song ChCheck it Out at last year’s Mock Rock was one of the more memorable acts of the night. With goofy glasses and uncontainable energy, Mitch had rushed onto stage and shocked the entire audience into laughter.

Unfortunately, that moment was one of the final memories of Mitch, not only from his high school days, but from the entirety of his existence.

According to Louie Huntoon, another 2006 graduate and one of Mitch’s best friends, along with being an easygoing guy, Mitch was a “risk taker.” Unfortunately, that attribute may have caused Mitch his life.

On Aug. 7, Mitch was found dead in his aunt's shallow pool. Initially, most thought he had simply drowned, it later became clear that his death was caused by an alternative, yet lethal drug: huffing. When at his aunt’s swimming pool, Mitch huffed air duster, lost consciousness and drowned as a result.

“He thought he was invincible,” Huntoon said.

Huntoon said the weekend before Mitch died, Mitch spent the weekend with his father, water-skiing and having an overall good time. Then, Mitch told his father that he wanted to go see his aunt in Spring Lake.

When Mitch arrived at his aunt’s house, he asked her for money and went to Rite-Aid to purchase the air duster that would eventually kill him.

“Mitch had a big heart,” Huntoon said. “He was very caring; always thinking about other people and not at all selfish. He was just a crazy guy. His mind always seemed to be going a million miles per hour, and he would always jump from one thing to the next.”

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Mitch’s death signifies more than just a local affliction, but rather a broader issue that is plaguing suburbs all across the nation.

"You don't have to be a rocket scientist to see the obvious: look at the young adult population around you," said William Newman, Mitch's father. "There are some winners who are sober, drug free and working hard in college or their vocations, and there are the losers - drug or alcohol impaired, unemployed, or working at minimum wage, living just for the moment and going nowhere."

Included in those who are "drug or alcohol impaired" are adolescents who huff. Huffing is an epidemic that has been steadily rising in the US since 2003. According to American Heritage Dictionary, "huffing" is the act of inhaling fumes of a chemical in order to become intoxicated.

The huffing that led to his death on Aug. 7 was not Mitch's first experimentation with intoxication. Mitch had huffed before, and when he was confronted by his father on the issue, Mitch had promised Mr. Newman that he would quit.

"I suspect that Mitch was experimenting with huffing a good bit of the summer of 2006, and perhaps earlier," Mr. Newman stated. "I also know he was willing to experiment with other illegal drug substances, against strong advice from friends and family."

Although Mitch had numerous chances to recuperate from his substance abuse, he did not take advantage of those opportunities. But not all who try huffing are given as many chances. Around 22 percent teens who huff die as a result of their first use, as reported by Human Toxicology.

The harms of huffing are real, but have been ignored. Since objects used for huffing can be found in common households, it is not seen as an immediate problem.

"This dangerous practice is more widespread than one might imagine," Mr. Newman said. "The police investigating Mitch's death are very alarmed by this practice because huffing products are readily available, inexpensive, not necessarily illegal and often thought to not be harmful."

But statistics show otherwise.

A recent study done by the National Survey on Drug and Health showed that about 2.6 million adolescents have used inhalants in the past.

According to the same report, those exact adolescents are three times as likely to abuse other substances, including hard drugs.

“I think students are turning to huffing as an alternative type of drug,” said Jason McVoy, Dean of Students. “They don’t understand the dangers involved in it.”

In lieu of recent events, the administration at Shores has decided to try and educate the student body about the dangers of huffing.

“We’ve been working with the broadcast speech class and some students in there to put together an informational piece to do on announcements,” Mr. McVoy said. “It’s going to be on huffing in particular and just talk about its prevalence and why it’s so dangerous.”

Although huffing has always been included in drug policies, it has now become more of a focus. When it comes to any kind of drug use or possession, the administration is strict in the enforcement of school policies.

“It is an automatic ten day suspension if you are under the influence or in possession of drugs or drug paraphernalia,” Mr. McVoy said. “And if you are buying and selling, or if you are in receipt of any drugs, then it is a mandatory recommendation of expulsion.”

With this stricter enforcement of policies, administrators hope to spread the word about the dangers of huffing and other substance abuse. Because of the easy access of huffing, it is a widely abused substance problem and is finally being addressed within the local community.

“I know that Mitch had significant adjustment and maturity issues,” Mr. Newman said. “Some students will probably think that they are not at risk like Mitch, but this would be a dangerous rationalization.”

All students are susceptible to huffing, which is why parents, friends, and teachers constantly need to be on the lookout for symptoms and signs of intoxication. If there’s one thing Shores can take away from Mitch’s death, it’s that tragedy can happen anywhere.

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The death of a student due to drugs is something that no one suspected to occur at Shores, especially one as good-hearted and likable as Mitch. But now that it has happened, Mitch’s friends and family are determined to help others learn from his mistakes.

“I would like Mitch’s death, as terrible as a situation it is, used to get the word out to kids,” Mr. McVoy said. “Mitch is somebody that a lot of the people here at school knew, and this tragedy can be used to really get the word out so that students may realize how dangerous huffing really is .”

Mitch was a well-known member of the school community, and even those who didn’t know him could recognize Mitch walking around school, willing to help anyone who needed it, a smile constantly on his face. That is why his death has hit Shores especially hard.

“Mitch’s death seemed unreal, like someone was playing some sick joke on me” said Angelica Singleton, a 2006 graduate and friend of Mitch. “It finally felt real at his funeral, and I miss him so much.”

It seems unfair that Mitch’s life should have been taken away at such an early age, and although it is impossible to go back in time and change what happened to him, it is well within the realm of reality to influence what happens in the future. By spreading awareness about the dangers of huffing and helping prevent it, we will all be honoring Mitch’s memory in the best way possible.

“I would always pick on Mitch, but I know that deep down, he knew I loved him like a brother,” Huntoon said. “I wish he had stopped huffing. He was always making the wrong decisions; this one cost him his life.”