Psychotherapist Selina Kuruleca says the “why” behind “glue sniffing behaviour” in youths nowadays needs to be understood first to be able to stop it.
In response to queries from this paper, Ms Kuruleca said parents, leaders, community leaders, friends and families must understand why the behaviour started “and then we can start to unpack on how we will stop it”.
“It could be peer pressure, extended exposure, lack of supervision, experimenting, needing to fit in, comorbid social issues that the individual finds themselves in and in return they think that this is an ‘out’ for them,” Ms Kuruleca said.
She said inhaling of glue and other substances such as gases and aerosols could “cause confusion, slurred speech, mood swings, aggressive behaviour, hallucinations, vomiting, blackouts and breathing difficulties”.
“Additionally with extensive use — several times a day for several days and weeks, there will be loss of sense of taste, smell, loss of vision, dramatic increase in aggressive behaviour and violent mood swings along with the rest of the effects already stated.”
Physically, she said, an individual would lose the use of most of their senses and mentally — before they would start losing touch with reality.
Meanwhile, statistics recorded by the Substance Abuse Advisory Council in 2018 said that of the 1634 cases of drugs and substance abuse recorded that year, 301 cases involved students sniffing inhalants.
