Epidemiology of Inhalant Abuse - Archives - National Institute on ...

medication, and jumping from a tall building. The age range for suicide
attempts varied from 15 to 24 years.
Four percent lived with their extended families, 13 percent had nuclear
families, 4 percent lived in foster homes, and 17 percent considered
themselves “loners.” Thirty percent admitted having a drug-using group
<strong>of</strong> friends. At the time <strong>of</strong> admission, 22 percent reported they felt
“depressed”; 39 percent, “anxious-nervous-restless”; and 30 percent,
“balanced.”
An objective scale (i.e., Holstein-Waahl Scale) was filled out by the
examiners measuring the magnitude and severity <strong>of</strong> drug abuse and its
consequent social maladaptation. This scale was used to develop
regimens for clients. Using this measurement, counseling was provided
in 26 percent <strong>of</strong> the cases, 39 percent were <strong>of</strong>fered outpatient treatment,
and 30 percent <strong>of</strong> the clients were recommended for hospitalization.
Eighty-seven percent <strong>of</strong> the individuals had at least one alcoholic in his or
her family, and 65 percent had one alcoholic parent (twice as many
fathers as mothers were alcoholics). Twenty-three percent had a druguser
parent (four times more females than males), 18 percent had a
depressed family member, 21 percent reported a suicide in the immediate
family, and 88 percent had an alcoholic in the family (figure 5). Eightythree
percent experienced an object loss during his or her lifetime (e.g.,
parents’ or own divorce, death <strong>of</strong> a family member, or loss <strong>of</strong> friend or
job). The earliest experience <strong>of</strong> loss was at age 10.
Less information was available from a detoxification unit in Budapest,
where all types <strong>of</strong> intoxication cases (except for alcohol) are admitted
from the city and surrounding areas. This unit reported in 1992 that out
<strong>of</strong> the total number <strong>of</strong> 10,000 cases treated at that unit, 118 inhalant
intoxications were identified. Fifty-six percent <strong>of</strong> these cases were
between ages 10 and 19; 28 percent, between ages 20 and 29; and
7 percent, between ages 30 and 39. In the first age group, almost
60 percent were male. In the second age group, 97 percent were male
while in the third age group 75 percent were male. The average length <strong>of</strong>
hospital stay at the detoxification unit was 1.75 days (I. Nagy, personal
communication, July 12, 1993).
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