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

INHALANT ABUSE AMONG STUDENTS
The population <strong>of</strong> Brazil now is estimated to be approximately 150
million. Most <strong>of</strong> the population is young—40 percent are under 18 years
<strong>of</strong> age. School attendance figures follow familiar Third World patterns:
83 percent <strong>of</strong> children between the ages <strong>of</strong> 7 and 14 (comprising the 8
years <strong>of</strong> mandatory schooling) attend school, and just 52 percent <strong>of</strong> those
between the ages <strong>of</strong> 15 and 17 go to school (Instituto Brasileiro de
Geografia e Estatistica 1987).
Available epidemiological data on drug use regarding this population
consistently point to the fact that inhalants are the most frequently used
drugs among Brazilian students nationwide, with the exception <strong>of</strong> alcohol
and tobacco (table 1). <strong>Inhalant</strong> use figures surpass the use <strong>of</strong> over-thecounter
drugs, marijuana, and cocaine (Carlini and Carlini-Cotrim 1993).
Furthermore, this preference for inhalants was reported not only in major
cities but in smaller ones as well. It also seems to be present both in the
public school system, which is attended by lower income children and
adolescents, and in the private schools, frequented by students from upper
and middle class backgrounds (Carlini and Carlini-Cotrim 1993)
(table 2).
The products most frequently used by students are lança-perfume and
loló. These are made clandestinely and sold illegally and are available
exclusively for the purpose <strong>of</strong> drug abuse. In some cities, other products
were found to be preferred: shoemaker’s glue, gasoline, fingernail polish,
and acetone (Carlini and Carlini-Cotrim 1993; Carlini et al. 1990).
As shown in table 3, boys reported a higher consumption rate than girls in
all surveyed cities (Carlini and Carlini-Cotrim 1993; Carlini et al. 1990).
However, previous data from lower income students in São Paulo
(figure 1), suggest that girls have a curious preference towards inhaling
beauty products, such as acetone and fingernail polish, when compared to
their male peers. Further research is needed within a broader segment <strong>of</strong>
the population to confirm this observation.
In this same local study focusing on the São Paulo student population,
Carlini-Cotrim and Carlini (1988a) found that the total percentage <strong>of</strong>
lifetime use <strong>of</strong> inhalant increases with age (table 4). However, the reverse
is true when use within the previous 30 days is considered. Then inhalant
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