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

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Inhaling from a plastic bag: The volatile material is placed in a<br />

plastic bag, and the abusers inhale the vapor that is emitted.<br />

Inhaling from cloth: The volatile material is placed <strong>on</strong> a piece <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

cloth and spread evenly. The abusers then inhale the vapors emitted.<br />

Some <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the comm<strong>on</strong> factors c<strong>on</strong>tributing to inhalant abuse am<strong>on</strong>g the<br />

young people in Singapore include peer influence, curiosity, lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

parental guidance, boredom, easy availability <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the substances, and the<br />

quick-high effect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> inhalati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> intoxicating substances.<br />

Adverse health c<strong>on</strong>sequences due to volatile solvents have been reported.<br />

By 1987, there had been 23 cases <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> deaths associated with glue sniffing.<br />

They were a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> accidents (such as drowning) or suicide. Eleven<br />

abusers have suffered brain damage, primarily in the form <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cognitive<br />

dysfuncti<strong>on</strong> such as impaired percepti<strong>on</strong>, reas<strong>on</strong>ing, and memory. The<br />

persistent presence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> repeaters detected indicates that some <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the<br />

inhalant abusers could have developed psychological dependence <strong>on</strong><br />

inhalants; about 20 percent <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the 1,112 abusers detected in 1987 had<br />

been c<strong>on</strong>tacted five times or more by the police or <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Central<br />

Bureau, Singapore. Violent behavior as a result <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> glue sniffing also has<br />

been reported.<br />

The social c<strong>on</strong>sequences <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> inhalant abuse are diverse. Family life <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ten<br />

is disrupted because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> glue-sniffing incidents. The teenager who is<br />

dependent <strong>on</strong> inhaling these substances tends to neglect schoolwork,<br />

interests, and pers<strong>on</strong>al hygiene (Singapore Anti-Narcotics Associati<strong>on</strong><br />

1988).<br />

Several measures have been introduced by the Singapore Government to<br />

curb the indiscriminate use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> inhalants. These include the enactment <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

the Intoxicating Substance Act <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 1987, which makes inhalant abuse an<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fense by law. Under the act, suspected inhalant abusers can be<br />

subjected to blood tests. Those detected for the first time can be placed<br />

under the supervisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ficers from the Central Narcotics Bureau.<br />

Recalcitrant <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fenders may be admitted for treatment and rehabilitati<strong>on</strong> in<br />

approved instituti<strong>on</strong>s and afterwards are placed under supervisi<strong>on</strong>. Those<br />

who breach the supervisi<strong>on</strong> are punished.<br />

In additi<strong>on</strong> to these deterrent measures and legislati<strong>on</strong>, a 3-m<strong>on</strong>th<br />

anti-glue-sniffing and anti-inhalant abuse campaign was launched in<br />

1988.<br />

42

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