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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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 />
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