Epidemiology of Inhalant Abuse - Archives - National Institute on ...
Epidemiology of Inhalant Abuse - Archives - National Institute on ...
Epidemiology of Inhalant Abuse - Archives - National Institute on ...
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Have you ever “sniffed” (“or huffed”) glue, gas, sprays, or anything<br />
like that to get high? (Do NOT include cocaine.)<br />
Yes/No<br />
The American Drug and Alcohol Survey (Oetting and colleagues 1990),<br />
shown above, gives 12 percent repeatedly.<br />
SUMMARY OF UNITED KINGDOM VSA-RELATED<br />
PREVALENCE DATA<br />
Tables 6, 7, and 8 summarize the informati<strong>on</strong> from the United Kingdom<br />
mostly from survey questi<strong>on</strong>naires. A substantial minority (up to 10<br />
percent) <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> children in school experiment with the abuse <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> volatile<br />
compounds at some time, although fewer than 1 percent c<strong>on</strong>tinue to use<br />
them regularly. Am<strong>on</strong>g the selected populati<strong>on</strong> studies, reported use is<br />
much higher, which <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ten is why the populati<strong>on</strong>s were selected in the first<br />
place! Trends in use and any change in pattern <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> use over time is poorly<br />
documented. Little informati<strong>on</strong> is available about which products are<br />
abused and the methods <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> abuse. Anecdotal reports <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> roughly equal<br />
VSA between the sexes is supported by the majority <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> surveys. The<br />
suspected trend toward younger children experimenting is not adequately<br />
investigated since most studies take place <strong>on</strong>ly in sec<strong>on</strong>dary schools (with<br />
children ages 11 and older), although the “ever used” type <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> questi<strong>on</strong><br />
should reveal this if the age <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> first use also is asked.<br />
Risk factors such as sniffing al<strong>on</strong>e or in company are not well addressed,<br />
although Sourindhrin and Baird (1984) reported that 92.5 percent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 134<br />
users studied in Glasgow used volatile substances as a group activity.<br />
Evans and Raistrick (1987) compared toluene and butane users and found<br />
that 74 percent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the glue users sniffed as a group, while 83 percent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
butane users sniffed al<strong>on</strong>e. They attributed this to the l<strong>on</strong>ger durati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
intoxicati<strong>on</strong> caused by toluene. However, Jacobs and Ghodse (1988)<br />
reported that 75 percent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 20 delinquents, most <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> whom abused butane<br />
cigarette lighter fuel, did so as a group.<br />
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