solvent-abuse-pakistan

Section three
Fig. 3.3.4a
Etiology of Solvent Abuse
Curiosity Forget the past Relatives
Enviornment Neglection Domestic Voilence
Group Violence Peer/Friends Misc
53.6
Them with a sense of belonging to the ingroup
and gives them courage to commit
crimes and higher levels of violence.
3.4.5 Consequences of Use
4.3
A range of negative consequences and
problems can arise from persistent use of
solvents. When explored in FGD, the children
revealed various medical and social problems
they have been facing over the past two years.
Although youth is generally a time of relatively
good health, but, the nature of continuous
exposure to the streets and the associated
lifestyles makes street children vulnerable to a
range of health and other problems which are
4.3
8.4
8.7
5
2.6
3.1
9.9
not typically experienced by other young
people. The majority of children did not
report any severe medical problems that
they faced, however minor ailments and
health problems have been reported.
Although use of solvents has its own
untoward effects on the health of the
Box 3.
Medical Consequences of Solvent Abuse
Chest Infections & Breathing
(16.4%)
Fever (16%)
Generalized Weakness & Myalgia
(8.9%)
Skin Infections (3.6%)
Gastric upsets (3.8%)
Headache (2.6%)
Urinary Infections (1.9%)
Semi-consciousness (1.0%)
Misc (5.5%)
individual, but the results of surveys of
chronic solvent abusers are reassuring that
physical organ damage is not a significant or
widespread problem for most abusers. The
degree and duration of abuse required
producing harm to heart, brain, kidneys and
liver is unknown because several years of
35,43,17
regular abuse appears to be necessary.
157 children (37.7%) reported that they
had been facing problems due to solvent
abuse. The number one social problem quoted
was neglect, hatred and non-acceptance by
the society (46.5%). Incidences have been
reported where children were cast out from
their families (4%) and lost jobs (2.3%) due to
their involvement with solvents. In depth
Box 3.
Social Consequences of
Abuse
Neglect ion & Hatred (46.5%)
Group Violence (21.7%)
Police threats (12.9%)
Out casted from family (4.1%)
Living in non hygienic
condition (3.5%)
Lost jobs (2.3%)
Others (9.9%)
FGD's revealed that children viewed their
parents as impassive who else would take
care of them. People considered them
rebellions, runaways and apathetic towards
others. They are generally thought to have no
values (moral, social, religious or ethical) and
are largely gangsters involved in crime that
extended from simple theft to drug paddling or
even commercial sex. Children reported that
such negative attitude of the society inculcated
a feeling of hatred, neglect and denial of care.
They pointed out that everyone around hated,
manipulated and exploited them so they would
also do the same to them. Such kind of
negativity when expressed and exposed took
the shape of violence, which according to the
children is a reciprocation of what they have
received.
Amazingly, the children were positive that
to repay society they needed strength not only
from outside but from their own selves, which
could only be achieved through abuse of
solvents or other drugs. This façade terrified
others around them so at least for the time
being helped in their survival without many
efforts and courage and so the vicious cycle
continues. Thus it is difficult to comment
whether spending time on the street made
them so or the abuse of solvents/drugs gave
rise to such consequences. The effect could
be reciprocal. The principle of trial and error
was the first step towards a long journey
without a destination.
26
27