On Tuesday, May 18, TODAY aired an investigative report about national retailers selling toxic inhalants to minors — products that kids “huff” to get high.
CVS, PC Richard & Son, and Kmart all declined our request for on-camera interviews. In statements, they said what we found is unacceptable, and the safety of their customers is a top priority. CVS and Kmart say they’re re-educating their staff. And in response to our investigation, PC Richard will stop selling air duster altogether. They’ve already pulled it off store shelves.
Below are full statements from representatives of retailers cited in the segment:
Statement from CVS spokesperson Michael J. DeAngelis:
“CVS/pharmacy adheres to all local, state and federal laws pertaining to the sale of products in our stores. Last November, we took an additional step and implemented a voluntary age restriction on the sale of compressed air dusters to prevent the sale of these products to customers under the age of 18. Our register system’s age restriction warning is in place at every CVS/pharmacy location and we confirmed that this system was functioning at all of the stores that the Today Show visited. Employees who do not properly follow our procedures for the sale of age-restricted products are subject to termination from their jobs. We are also re-communicating to all stores our policy requiring the adherence to age restriction warnings in our register system.”
Statement from Kmart spokesperson Chris Brathwaite:
“The safety and security of our customers is a top priority. While two of our stores tested in your investigation followed our procedures, we’re disappointed the third did not. And we have already followed up with that store to ensure all associates know and follow our protocols. We have an age restriction flag on these types of products, restricting the sale from minors and our vendor, Maxell, adds a bitterant to these types of canned air products to discourage inhalant abuse. The CPSC does not consider these products to be hazardous as it is an intentional abuse, not misuse, that can cause harm. Parents who have concerns about the abuse of these types of products, should visit the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition at http://www.inhalant.org/ and the CPSC’s Parents’ Guide to Preventing Inhalant Abuse at http://cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/389gph.html.”
Statement from PC Richard & Son spokesperson Glenn Sahagian:
“PC Richard & Son prohibits the sale of air duster to minors in its stores, and what the Today Show found is unacceptable. As a result, we are taking action. Effective immediately, we are no longer selling air duster in any of our 61 stores. We are pulling all air duster inventory off store shelves.”
For more information about kids and inhalants, go to:
http://www.inhalants.org/
