Sniffing hell for momentary tinkling

Harnoor Kaur Sekhon

Nothing burns like the cold, athirst nights on concrete and your loved ones missing or either dead; you take what you can to reach oblivion.

The low-priced shoe repair glue makes the night a little less chilly and an empty stomach a little less persistent. It ameliorates the pain of their daily hunger and meagre life. The shoe repair glue that these children sniff is handily available, cheap, habit-forming, highly toxic and immensely powerful because of the neurotoxin toluene which is inhaled for its capacity to cause a state of temporary euphoria. These street urchins walk around snot-nosed and barefoot, more like the living dead.

Once the glue is inhaled the fumes reduce one’s concept of reality, induce a sense of euphoria or hallucinations. It reduces fear and eliminates pain. The glue is usually, initially, sniffed to placate hunger pangs and to tolerate harsh weather conditions or other physical ills.

Addiction happens fairly quickly and users experience a boost in confidence, reduced social concern and reduced physical control. However, these feelings only last for a few minutes and aren’t worth the menace to their health.

I interviewed an Inspector of the Police Department to gather insight and extract views of the authorities in this matter. He had assessed that such cases had been identified among children belonging to the poor strata of society, who are below 10 years of age. These cases are not frequently reported to the police and no stringent action can be taken against these children because they fall under the juvenile category. The only measure taken by the police is to counsel the parents and the accused. He further expressed his deep concern on this hideous issue which is the initial step taken on the climb towards other more powerful and devastating drugs. He highlighted the possible remedies to curb the advent of this horrifying issue by organising awareness camps involving parents and opening more schools for the impoverished children in order to channelise their energy in a constructive manner.

Neha Chopra, clinical psychologist, practising at a government hospital in Chandigarh, elucidated the unhealthy symptoms of sniffing glue, which include headaches, dizziness, nausea, abdominal pain, mood swings, appearing intoxicated, loss of interest in normal activities, damage to personal relationships, numbness, tingling in hands and feet, loss of coordination, fatigue, hearing loss, apathy, impaired judgment and loss of consciousness.

She also recommended certain measures that should be taken by the government to make strict laws regarding the availability of such items in our society. More de-addiction centres should be opened to control this invigorating issue. Certain government restrictive policies should be formulated regarding the sale of such items which have insidious and denigrating effects on the physical as well as the mental well-being of these children.

We are talking of some of the weakest sections of society who owing to such cheap hallucinogens often fall into the trap of small thefts to fuel these habits and eventually take to a life of crime. The little ones who should be under utmost care are exposed to a vicious cycle that will make them unwanted and uncared and this despair will leave a negative impact for a lifetime.

The Addiction

• The low-priced shoe repair glue makes the night a little less chilly and an empty stomach a little less persistent.
• The glue that these children sniff is easily available, cheap, habit-forming, highly toxic and immensely powerful because of the neurotoxin toluene which is inhaled for its capacity to cause a state of temporary euphoria.
• Addiction happens fairly quickly and users experience a boost in confidence, reduced social concern and reduced physical control.
• However, these feelings only last for a few minutes and aren’t worth the menace to the health of the children who have fallen prey to it.
• An Inspector in the Police Department had assessed that such cases had been identified among children belonging to the poor strata of society, who are below 10 years of age.

The writer is a psychology (Hons) student at PU