Abuse of industrial substance by kids on rise
Last Updated IST
Teenagers inhaling paint-thinner and other addictive susbstances is a common sight in Delhi.
Concerned by the rising use of paint-thinner, whitener and rubber-adhesive by children and juveniles as a form of drug in the city, the Delhi Police have decided to write to the manufacturers of these products and concerned government agencies to look in for their alternatives.
The police will also write to see if the composition of these addictive substances could be altered to dilute their addictive component.
Whitener or correction fluid, which used to sell in the city in 30 ml bottle till two years ago, is banned for sale now. However, it is still available in 5 ml to 7 ml sticks which school-going children use as part of their regular dope. Likewise, paint-thinner is also banned in certain quantity however it’s still available for industrial purposes which get diverted for sale, said experts.
“Sniffing of these substances by children and juveniles in the age group of 8-18 years makes them addicted to it and more importantly they introduce them to harder drugs like marijuana, cocaine and heroine,” said an official from Department of Women and Child Development, Delhi Government.
Dependra Pathak, Delhi Police’s Joint Commissioner (South West range) told DH that they are worried about the misuse of such substances by the juveniles and will write to the makers of these products to either come up with their alternatives or change their composition.
“We will get their composition checked and also speak to the producers if an alternative of such products could be found. NGOs and experts will also be kept in the loop,” Pathak said.
The move was prompted by the police following a police-public interactive session in South West Delhi’s Dwarka last month where parents of addicted children narrated their ordeal to senior police officers.
“I got to know about my son’s substance abuse when I saw him roaming in the street in a disoriented state. He would come home and keep to himself. I snooped on him and found out that he is sniffing rubber-adhesive which he bought from a cobbler,” said Narendra Rathi, a resident of Bindapur of South West Delhi.
According to the experts, the hydrocarbons in these petroleum based products can infuse easily with the blood and can affect the central nervous system of a person.
Uncharacteristic behaviours such as mood swings and insomnia are some of the reported symptoms of solvent addiction and it may result in kidney, liver and lung damage.
“Just like drug addiction, at a point of unavailability of whiteners, the victims will move on to other intoxicant substances like Fevicol, petrol, nail polish removers etc, which are equally, if not more, harmful. So the responsibility lies in the parents also to not allow their children t fall dependent on these products as a source of pleasure,” said Rajesh Kumar, director SPYM, an NGO working in the prevention of drug abuse.
The police will also write to see if the composition of these addictive substances could be altered to dilute their addictive component.
Whitener or correction fluid, which used to sell in the city in 30 ml bottle till two years ago, is banned for sale now. However, it is still available in 5 ml to 7 ml sticks which school-going children use as part of their regular dope. Likewise, paint-thinner is also banned in certain quantity however it’s still available for industrial purposes which get diverted for sale, said experts.
“Sniffing of these substances by children and juveniles in the age group of 8-18 years makes them addicted to it and more importantly they introduce them to harder drugs like marijuana, cocaine and heroine,” said an official from Department of Women and Child Development, Delhi Government.
Dependra Pathak, Delhi Police’s Joint Commissioner (South West range) told DH that they are worried about the misuse of such substances by the juveniles and will write to the makers of these products to either come up with their alternatives or change their composition.
“We will get their composition checked and also speak to the producers if an alternative of such products could be found. NGOs and experts will also be kept in the loop,” Pathak said.
The move was prompted by the police following a police-public interactive session in South West Delhi’s Dwarka last month where parents of addicted children narrated their ordeal to senior police officers.
“I got to know about my son’s substance abuse when I saw him roaming in the street in a disoriented state. He would come home and keep to himself. I snooped on him and found out that he is sniffing rubber-adhesive which he bought from a cobbler,” said Narendra Rathi, a resident of Bindapur of South West Delhi.
According to the experts, the hydrocarbons in these petroleum based products can infuse easily with the blood and can affect the central nervous system of a person.
Uncharacteristic behaviours such as mood swings and insomnia are some of the reported symptoms of solvent addiction and it may result in kidney, liver and lung damage.
“Just like drug addiction, at a point of unavailability of whiteners, the victims will move on to other intoxicant substances like Fevicol, petrol, nail polish removers etc, which are equally, if not more, harmful. So the responsibility lies in the parents also to not allow their children t fall dependent on these products as a source of pleasure,” said Rajesh Kumar, director SPYM, an NGO working in the prevention of drug abuse.