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

TABLE 7. Age at first use <strong>of</strong> inhalants among
student population.
Age group Average age <strong>of</strong> first use
1 l-12 10.3
13-14 11.2
15-16 12.6
17-18 13.5
Students overwhelmingly use glues, with 76 percent preferring to use
thokal, a specific glue product in Peru. Sixteen percent use gasoline,
and 6 percent inhale thinners.
Other studies that focus on specific population groups such as that <strong>of</strong>
street children suggest a picture much different from that found with the
<strong>National</strong> Household or school-based surveys mentioned in this chapter:
A study conducted by Lock (1989), in which data were collected on a
sample <strong>of</strong> children in juvenile detention centers, found that 38.7 percent
<strong>of</strong> the juveniles tested positive for inhalant use. Another study by Claux
and Villanueva (unpublished manuscript) on a cohort <strong>of</strong> 154 street
children found that 25.3 percent <strong>of</strong> these youths reported lifetime use <strong>of</strong>
inhalants. Similarly, an ethnography study conducted by Ferrando
(unpublished manuscript) with street children in the cities <strong>of</strong> Tarapoto
and Tingo Maria found high rates <strong>of</strong> inhalant abuse. The lifetime rate <strong>of</strong>
inhalant abuse for children living in Tingo Maria was 49 percent and 37.5
percent for those living in Tarapoto. These rates <strong>of</strong> use <strong>of</strong> inhalants by
youths were exceeded only by alcohol consumption rates. Further, data
from information collected by field workers conducting a census <strong>of</strong> street
children in Peru indicate that about 16 percent <strong>of</strong> these children were
heavy inhalant users.
It appears that there are even higher inhalant abuse rates among children
living on the streets, a much more vulnerable population than children
working in the street but living at home. According to social workers
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