Inhalant Abuse Research Paper
REVIEW
Glue Sniffing: A Review
Haresh Tulsidas, MBBS, MRCP (UK)
Department of Internal Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
Abstract
Inhalant abuse is a prevalent and often overlooked form of substance abuse in adolescents and young adults. It causes a euphoric feeling, may become addictive and can be a serious health concern associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Acute effects of inhalants include sudden sniffing death syndrome, asphyxia, and traumatic injuries. Chronic inhalant abuse can damage the brain, heart, lung, kidney, liver, and bone marrow in addition to being an important cause of psychosocial and economic problems. This article is proposed to emphasize on the harmful effects of glue-sniffing, …show more content…
A neonatal withdrawal syndrome has also been described with chronic inhalant abuse53.
Social and psychological In addition to the above medical consequences, chronic inhalant abuse presents a major problem to society. It is linked with a number of psychosocial problems and other risk behaviours.
Inhalant abusers are more likely to suffer from a serious mental illness than non abusers. These adolescents often suffer from low self-esteem and are more prone to have depression and even suicidal thoughts. They have poor family relations, academic problems, and are exposed to substance-using peers and/or parents54,55,56.
Compared to non-users, delinquency rate is higher among users55 who are more prone to engage in anti-social or criminal activities.
Violent behaviour and weapon carrying have also been closely associated with substance abuse57,58. Inhalant abusers have a tendency to sit with a pen or marker near the nose, constantly smell clothing sleeves and would hide rags, clothes, or empty containers of the potentially abused products in closets and other …show more content…
1988; 23(6):611–4. 28. Zee-Cheng CS, Mueller CE, Gibbs HR. Toluene sniffing and severe sinus bradycardia. Ann Intern Med.
1985;10(3):103:482.
29. Taylor GJ, Harris WS. Glue sniffing causes heart block in mice. Science. 1970; 170(3960):866–8. 30. Wiseman MN, Banim S. ‘Glue-sniffer’s heart? Br Med J.
1987; 294(6574):739. 31. Carder Jr, Fuerst RS. Myocardial infarction after toluene inhalation. Pediatr Emerg Care. 1997; 13(2):117–9. 32. Vural M, Ogel K. Dilated cardiomyopathy associated with toluene abuse. Cardiology. 2006;105(3):158–61. 33. Schikler KN, Lane EE, Seitz K, Collins WM. Solvent abuse associated pulmonary abnormalities. Adv Alcohol Subst
Abuse. 1984; 3(3):75–81. 34. Robert R, Touchard G, Meurice JC, Pourrat O, Yver L. Severe
Goodpasture’s syndrome after glue sniffing. Nephrol Dial
Transplant. 1988;3(4):483–4. 35. Taher SM, Anderson RJ, Mc Cartney R, Poportzer MM,
Schrier RW. Renal Tubular Acidosis associated with
Toluene “sniffing”. N Engl J Med. 1974; 290:765–8.
36. Kaneko T, Koizumi T, Takezaki T, Sato A. Urinary calculi associated with solvent abuse. J Urol. 1992;
147(5):1365–6.
Proceedings of Singapore Healthcare Volume 19 Number 4
Glue Sniffing: A Review
Haresh Tulsidas, MBBS, MRCP (UK)
Department of Internal Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
Abstract
Inhalant abuse is a prevalent and often overlooked form of substance abuse in adolescents and young adults. It causes a euphoric feeling, may become addictive and can be a serious health concern associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Acute effects of inhalants include sudden sniffing death syndrome, asphyxia, and traumatic injuries. Chronic inhalant abuse can damage the brain, heart, lung, kidney, liver, and bone marrow in addition to being an important cause of psychosocial and economic problems. This article is proposed to emphasize on the harmful effects of glue-sniffing, …show more content…
A neonatal withdrawal syndrome has also been described with chronic inhalant abuse53.
Social and psychological In addition to the above medical consequences, chronic inhalant abuse presents a major problem to society. It is linked with a number of psychosocial problems and other risk behaviours.
Inhalant abusers are more likely to suffer from a serious mental illness than non abusers. These adolescents often suffer from low self-esteem and are more prone to have depression and even suicidal thoughts. They have poor family relations, academic problems, and are exposed to substance-using peers and/or parents54,55,56.
Compared to non-users, delinquency rate is higher among users55 who are more prone to engage in anti-social or criminal activities.
Violent behaviour and weapon carrying have also been closely associated with substance abuse57,58. Inhalant abusers have a tendency to sit with a pen or marker near the nose, constantly smell clothing sleeves and would hide rags, clothes, or empty containers of the potentially abused products in closets and other …show more content…
1988; 23(6):611–4. 28. Zee-Cheng CS, Mueller CE, Gibbs HR. Toluene sniffing and severe sinus bradycardia. Ann Intern Med.
1985;10(3):103:482.
29. Taylor GJ, Harris WS. Glue sniffing causes heart block in mice. Science. 1970; 170(3960):866–8. 30. Wiseman MN, Banim S. ‘Glue-sniffer’s heart? Br Med J.
1987; 294(6574):739. 31. Carder Jr, Fuerst RS. Myocardial infarction after toluene inhalation. Pediatr Emerg Care. 1997; 13(2):117–9. 32. Vural M, Ogel K. Dilated cardiomyopathy associated with toluene abuse. Cardiology. 2006;105(3):158–61. 33. Schikler KN, Lane EE, Seitz K, Collins WM. Solvent abuse associated pulmonary abnormalities. Adv Alcohol Subst
Abuse. 1984; 3(3):75–81. 34. Robert R, Touchard G, Meurice JC, Pourrat O, Yver L. Severe
Goodpasture’s syndrome after glue sniffing. Nephrol Dial
Transplant. 1988;3(4):483–4. 35. Taher SM, Anderson RJ, Mc Cartney R, Poportzer MM,
Schrier RW. Renal Tubular Acidosis associated with
Toluene “sniffing”. N Engl J Med. 1974; 290:765–8.
36. Kaneko T, Koizumi T, Takezaki T, Sato A. Urinary calculi associated with solvent abuse. J Urol. 1992;
147(5):1365–6.
Proceedings of Singapore Healthcare Volume 19 Number 4