An International perspective
The problem of solvent
abuse isn’t confined to the United Kingdom. Incidents of sniffing and
abuse have been reported worldwide, although the nature and extent of the
problem differs from country to country and young people may sniff for a
number of different reasons.
In the UK
peer pressure, boredom, or social and emotional problems may contribute to
VSA. Elsewhere, particularly among children living on the streets of
countries such as Romania
or Guatemala,
VSA is seen as a coping mechanism. It is used by the children to keep them
awake for work, alert to possible violence, to get to sleep, to dull
physical or emotional pain and to replace the need for food. There are an
estimated 100 million street children worldwide, and in Paraguay,
for example, it is thought that 80-85% of street children have
experimented with VSA.
Of the countries in the European
Union, VSA in the UK
has received a lot of attention and the levels of use and reported deaths
associated with the deliberate inhalation of volatile chemicals are
comparatively high.
International
concerns
United States-In
1988 the US reported that an estimated 3,170,000 people had abused
volatile substances, 273,000 on a daily basis.
Mexico-12%
of street children surveyed said they had started using glue on a regular
basis at 9 years old.
Guatemala-More
than 50% of street children use substances, mainly shoe glue.
Bolivia-Street
children deliberately cut themselves under the influence of glue to show
bravery and status, or when feeling angry or sad.
Brazil-Glue
sniffing is used as a replacement for food. A tube of glue will last two
or three days instead of food.
Egypt-Children
use substances to dull their pain when fighting or being beaten. Glue is
an affordable coping mechanism.
Sudan-Glue
and benzene are sniffed because they are not legally considered drugs. 22%
of street youth sniff glue.
Tanzania-Street children
sniff glue and petrol as a statement against society. Chronic petrol
sniffers are known as "mapetroli" or petrol-heads.
Australia-There is
widespread use of petrol among young aboriginal people in some rural
desert communities.
India-Glue
and petrol sniffing is accepted as a normal way of coping among street
children.
Philippines-Street
children make up 2 to 3% of the child population, and many sniff solvents
or drink cough syrups to escape their suffering.
Japan-Authorities
have expressed alarm at suicides linked to sniffing paint thinners after
the deaths of three of five teenagers who leapt from the seventh floor of
a building.
Romania-A
study of street children in Bucharest and two other cities indicated
that 99% use solvents, including glues and thinners.
Bulgaria-VSA
is a growing problem, particularly amongst the gypsy population. In 1989
there were an estimated 6000 users
Czech Republic-Volatile
substances are the second most commonly abused substances, after medical
drugs. Since 1970 young people have been sniffing a cleaning substance
called "Cikuli".
Prague-Glues
and solvents represent the most commonly used substances. Anyone on the
streets for more than a week will try sniffing.
Uganda-Children
living on the street commonly abuse aviation fuel and petrol.
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