GLUE SNIFFING
 
Contrary to belief, glue sniffing is NOT just a teenage thing and as it affects children as young as seven or eight years-of-age, it is becoming a real menace. The main thing to remember with those 'sniffing' is that they are devious and will find ingenious ways to disguise/hide their habit.

What Parents Should be Watching For:

 
  • A chemical smell on your child's breath.

  • Empty butane gas, aerosol or glue containers left where your child has been.

  • Teeth marks on aerosol nozzles.

  • Discarded towels, rags and glue bags.

  • A lack of co-ordination and coherence.

  • Suddenly mixing with new groups of friends - especially of they hang out in secluded places.

  • Mood swings or a deterioration in attitude or behaviour.

  • Sudden changes of school reports from the normal, mainly for a worsening of them.

  • Altered sleep patterns and reluctance to get out of bed.

  • Changes in appetite.

  • Changes in health such as headaches and coughs.

  • In the UK, for further advice, ring the national charity Re-Solv on their helpline 0808 800 2345.

Adding a few ideas to the above, you should check their room for discarded items mentioned above as they are likely to be hidden under AND in beds, matresses, pillows, cupboards, drawers and other such places. Also closely watch the bathroom with all the recesses that has too. Ckeck that the bath panel is not loose, and screws removed or are loose, and even check inside the toilet cistern for items in plastic bags.
    One of the best persons to contact apart from the above mentioned charity is your family doctor. They can provide you with contacts both locally and nationally where you can get help and advice.
 

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page