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Treatment Seeking Behavior of Inhalant Using Street Children: Are We Prepared to Meet Their Treatment Needs
Anju Dhawan1, Anita Chopra2, Atul Ambekar2
1Department of Psychiatry, AIIMS, New Delhi, India.
Insights
Street children in Delhi exhibit high rates of inhalant use, often starting around age 9. A significant majority (77%) have never sought medical help, highlighting a critical gap in treatment-seeking behavior for inhalant abuse.
Area of Science:
- Substance Abuse Research
- Child Health Studies
- Public Health Interventions
Background:
- Limited evidence exists on help-seeking behaviors among street children who use inhalants.
- Inhalant abuse among vulnerable populations, particularly street children, remains understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively understand the patterns and correlates of inhalant use among street children in Delhi, India.
- To investigate the treatment-seeking behavior of street children engaged in inhalant abuse.
Main Methods:
- A purposive sample of 100 street children under 18 using inhalants was recruited in Delhi.
- Data were collected via semi-structured questionnaires administered by trained staff in a field setting.
- Information gathered included demographics, inhalant use parameters, and help-seeking behaviors.
Main Results:
- The average age of participants was 12.8 years, with a mean age of onset for inhalant use at 9.3 years.
- Toluene from eraser fluid was the most commonly used substance (83.0%), with frequent daily use reported.
- A high percentage (77%) of participants had never sought medical help for inhalant use, despite reporting tolerance and withdrawal symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Findings offer a contemporary understanding of inhalant abuse patterns in Delhi's street children.
- The study underscores a significant lack of treatment-seeking behavior, indicating a need for targeted interventions.
- Results can inform the development of needs-based programs for street children with inhalant use disorders.
Context:
There is a lack of evidence for help and treatment seeking behavior of street children using inhalants.
Aims:
The present study was planned to provide a comprehensive understanding on the patterns, correlates of inhalant use and treatment seeking behavior of street children from Delhi, India.
Material And Methods:
Participants were a purposive sample of 100 inhalant using street children below 18 years identified with the assistance of five community service organizations/nongovernmental organization working with street children in the city of Delhi. Information on a semi-structured questionnaire with items pertaining to the demographic and drug use parameters was collected by trained research staff in a one-to-one in field setting.
Statistical Analysis:
All data were entered into SPSS 12.0, data quality checks performed and examined.
Results:
The sample had an average age of 12.8 ± 2.4 years (range 4-17 years), 96.5% reported regular past month and 87.0% past 24 h use of inhalants. The mean age of onset of inhalant use was 9.3 ± 2.8 years The substances most commonly reported were toluene from eraser fluid (by 83.0%), glues (34.0%) and petroleum products (3.0%); mean frequency of use was 9.8 times in a day. Of the sample, 18% used inhalants when they were alone, and the rest reported using with drug using network friends; 76% reported tolerance and mild withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness, anxiety, craving, irritability and lethargy. A variety of problems and perceived benefits due to inhalant use were reported; 46% inhalant users had never abstained from its use, and 77% reported never having sought any medical help.
Conclusions:
Study findings provide a better contemporary understanding of inhalant abuse among Delhi street children. This information can assist in the formulation of a needs-based intervention for the inhalant using street children.
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