Youth Warned Strongly On Solvent Abuse Perils

[george]

Youth warned strongly on solvent abuse perils

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Probation, in a strong warning against solvent abuse it said was widespread among young people, stressed that such substances had more harmful effects than methamphetamines.

The department also launched a campaign for cooperation from convenience stores and suppliers of construction materials, urging them to stop selling solvents to people under 17 years of age.

Wanchai Roujanavong, director-general of the Probation Department, said from 2001 to 2003, the number of abusers who were arrested increased by 10% each year. In 2005, police detained more than 10,000 abusers, and another 1,529 between January and February this year.

"It's worrying that 25% of the arrested were youths aged between 15-18. The government's war on drugs led the young addicts to switch from methamphetamines to solvents, which have become most popular among the youths of today. Most of the substance abusers were street children and those not in the school system," said Mr Wanchai.

As the department looked after many solvent addicts in juvenile protection and observation centres, Mr Wanchai said it was found that the substance had seriously damaged their brains. Treatment is more difficult than addiction to other drugs.

Dr Sirikiart Liangkobkij, of the Thai Health Promotion Fund, said solvents can seriously damage the vital functions of the body, including the respiratory system as the substances are normally inhaled. They also affect blood circulation, brain cells and the nervous system.

According to Dr Sirikiart, solvent abusers may develop psychiatric symptoms more serious than those addicted to methamphetamines. The treatment takes much longer, and in some cases, the addicts could be permanently disabled.

A 17-year-old former solvent addict from Ban Kanchanaphisek youth observation centre who asked not to be named, said he became addicted to solvents after working in a chemical factory when he was 15.

"I felt addicted to the smell of thinner and started taking a small amount out of the factory to sniff with my friends during weekends. I did that for over a year and started to feel my brain and body weakening," he said.

The "persuasion of friends," he added, made it easy for young people to get hooked, "even those coming from a nice family".

According to Mr Wanchai, the Solvent Prevention Act prohibiting the sale of solvents to persons aged under 17 was promulgated in 1990, but the law has not been strictly enforced.

Under the law, violators would face two to three years imprisonment and a fine of 20,000-30,000 baht.

To ease the problem, Mr Wanchai said the department has sought cooperation from convenience stores and shops selling construction materials and urged them to stop selling solvents to youngsters.

The campaign would focus on popular substances such as glue, thinners, and lacquer.

So far, there has been a good response from major firms including CRC Power Retail Co Ltd, Central Food Retail Co Ltd, Siam Makro Co Ltd, Bunthavorn Ceramic Co Ltd, Home Products Centre Co Ltd, Grand Home Mart Co Ltd, Robinson Department Store, The Mall Group, Cement Thai Home Mart, and Tesco Lotus.

These companies have agreed to inform their staff to pay careful attention to customers when selling any solvents, and to make sure the substance is sold to people aged above 17.

--Bangkok Post 2006-04-19

[Ijustwannateach]

Of course, no one thought to try to figure out just WHY those darned youths keep moving from one intoxicant to another- things like underlying causes or *real* social order problems. Easier bureaucratically to keep issuing prohibitions and warnings and arresting people and labelling them delinquents.

"Steven"

[Scott]

Solvents are particularly harmful to the body (especially the brain). I do hope ways of controlling it can be found, however, no place that I am aware of has had much luck.

[h90]

Of course, no one thought to try to figure out just WHY those darned youths keep moving from one intoxicant to another- things like underlying causes or *real* social order problems. Easier bureaucratically to keep issuing prohibitions and warnings and arresting people and labelling them delinquents.

"Steven"

maybe they should make the selling limit for ciggies, alc and solvents, aspirin and whatever else to 80 years instead of 17.

prohibition always worked very well, for alc and for other drugs......

or maybe we can make a law to put everyone younger than 80 in prision to ensure they don't take drugs?