The surveys involved 8,553, 35,317, and 27,414 students in Grades 7 through 12, respectively. Results across the studies indicate an ever-increasing increase in prevalence rate. Whereas 1.9 percent of students reported us in the 6 months prior to the 1974-1975 survey, 10.6 percent reported such use by 1983. Age of first use and the recentness of use appeared to cluster in the preteens or early teens and tapered off in the later teens. Rates were similar for males and females. Youth who began substance use with solvents were more likely to subsequently use narcotics than were those who began with marijuana, while those who used both drugs during their first year of substance use were likely to engage in extreme polydrug use subsequently. Although inhalant use differed by ethnicity, the effect of ethnicity also differed with residence inside or outside New York City. Among City residents, prevalence was highest for white non-Hispanic students, while for those in the rest of the State prevalence was highest among Hispanic students. More than one in five Hispanics outside the City had used solvents for 'kicks' or a 'high' in the 6 months prior to the survey. Inhalant users showed poor academic performance at all grades studied and reported a lack of family cohesion. 9 tables, 1 footnote, and 7 references.