A potentially lethal and one-time popular fad has resurfaced in Estancia smelling like country pine, potpourri and other scents.

Police Chief Jimmy Chavez said huffing, in which the propellant in aerosol is inhaled for a brief high, has become popular with some young people in town using air freshener.

Years ago inhaling chemicals like spray paint and glue for a high lead to selling restrictions but the police chief was unaware up to this point of huffing air freshener, Chavez said.

"My biggest concern is making parents aware of it. Most of the time parents are alert if they have alcohol missing in the house. But does anyone ever check the air freshener in the laundry room?" Chavez said.

In a small office at the Estancia Police Department, Patrol Officer Tarrell Smith set six empty cans of aerosol spray on a table next to two rags. He found them all at the high school. Smith said that a rag is placed on top of the can after removing the top spray mechanism.

"This is nasty. It induces coughing and spitting. It could cause severe instantaneous damage, and after time it could definitely kill large quantities of your brain cells," Chavez said.

Sources told Chavez and Smith that young people were buying several cans of air freshener from some local businesses.

"They were buying as many as six or seven cans at a time. It piqued our curiosity about what they were using it for," Smith said.

The officers thought it was being used as a cover to mask the odor of marijuana or cigarettes.

Then they found empty air freshener cans along with dirty rags on the inside wall of the dugout at the school. They also got a call that some 12 to 16 year olds were inhaling it in the locker room of the middle school.

Chavez and Smith interviewed the young people involved and filed written reports which were sent to Esther Baca, chief juvenile probation and parole officer.

"My biggest concern is getting it out so that parents are aware of it. Parents need to be constantly diligent and aware of what their kids are up to. Because who would've guessed it? It seems particularly popular now in Estancia for whatever reason," Chavez said.