(AP) - East Cleveland police officer Jeff Williams says it's too late to save his son, but he wants to help others spot inhalant abuse.

Williams attended a news conference in Washington ahead of next week's National Inhalant and Poisons Awareness Week.

Williams says his 14-year-old son Kyle displayed signs of inhalant abuse, like vomiting, tongue discomfort and irrational anger.

He says Kyle had only recently learned from a neighbor how to inhale intoxicants.

The boy died last March with a can of computer duster in his lap.

The National Inhalant Prevention Coalition says eighth-graders appear to be most at risk.

It says nearly 600,000 children from 12 to 17 years old started inhalant abuse in the past year.

The products that are abused include glue, spray paints and other
aerosol sprays.

The National Institutes of Health says inhalants can harm the brain, liver, heart, kidneys and lungs.