WHEELING, W.Va. -- A man with a nationally known mug shot and paint-covered face was arrested Tuesday for at least the seventh time on suspicion of huffing paint.

Patrick Tribett, 44, has been arrested on charges of huffing paint at least seven times. He's had a history of huffing paint -- and being caught -- since 1998.

Police said they responded to a call on 12th and Chapline streets in Wheeling around 8:40 p.m. and found Tribett with silver paint on his face. He was charged with inhaling intoxicants.

He was last arrested in October 2007 after, police said, he had a hard time walking, seemed intoxicated and had gold paint all over his face. At that time he was also arrested and charged with inhaling intoxicants.

In July, Tribett was charged with public intoxication after, police said, he was found staggering on Market Street near 15th Street in Wheeling.

In June 2006, officers found Tribett on 16th and Main streets intoxicated and covered in paint, police said. He was charged with public intoxication.

A week prior to that arrest, officers found Tribett huffing paint under the Interstate 470 bridge, police said.

Police said that when they found him, Tribett looked right at them but continued huffing. At that time, police said Tribett's mouth and clothes were covered in gold paint. Tribett was also arrested in July 2005 when police found him covered in gold paint, attempting to buy more at a Dollar General in Bellaire. Soon after, his mug shot received national attention. Tribett was arrested on similar charges in 1998.

Doctors said Tribett's habit could be a dangerous problem.

Psychologist David Blum, of Northwood Health Systems, said paint and any other chemicals are drugs.

"Addiction to inhalants is actually considered by many to be stronger than addiction to heroin and other drugs," Blum said.

Blum said gold or silver paints have a higher concentration of toluene, a chemical that produces a high. But, he said it can also cause permanent damage and what he called "sudden sniffing death."

"Inhalants, when you inhale, they get into your bloodstream, they go to your heart and your brain and they cause an arrhythmia of the heart," he said.

Experts said huffing is something that kids experiment with and, if they're not properly educated on the dangers of abusing chemicals, it could be a problem that follows them into adulthood.