BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Friends suspected she might be abusing inhalants to get a temporary high. The Kern County Coroner's office said Erin Ruge died from "asphyxiation due to inhalation of a gaseous substance."

The practice of inhaling propellants from aerosols is known as "huffing." It can cause brain damage and even death. According to the National Drug Intelligence Center, abusers inhale chemical vapors from a variety of substances, many of which are household products.

Ruge, 21, was found dead inside her apartment on the 8200 block of Kroll Way on March 27. In this particular case, the coroner's office says Ruge was using a product called Clean Safe Dust Remover that shoots a blast of compressed air to clear dust from computer keyboards.

Health officials say the abuse of inhalants is widespread across the United States, but it may be under reported because law enforcement and health care providers are often unfamiliar with signs of abuse.

Ruge was majoring in elementary education at California State University, Bakersfield. She grew up in Vancouver, Wash., and graduated from high school in 2006.

She joined the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority after enrolling at CSUB.