Petrol Inhalation Abuse- A Perilous Trend

Inhalant abuse referred to as intentional inhalation of several volatile chemicals and gases to experience a desired sense of intoxication, is on the rise particularly in youngsters. A form of drug abuse, presently, inhalant abuse is the highly insidious yet least recognised drug problems.

In some studies undertaken, the problem was noticed mostly in adolescents and has been found to have an adverse effect on pregnant women and her offspring. Many lining up at petrol pumps for a refill, are quite often drawn to its smell. Some even go to the extent of inhaling petrol directly from the petrol tank, with eventually the inhalation episode becoming more frequent to obtain the same level of euphoria and a sense of well-being.

Such petrol sniffers would go to any extent to fuel their addictive behaviour, even taking to smelling petrol soaked rags. Within 10-12hours of cessation of petrol sniffing such individuals experienced withdrawal symptoms like irritability, edginess, sleeplessness with hostile and aggressive encounters and staunch opposition from their side to quit.

On examination of the mental status of such petrol sniffers, the most conspicuous trait was irritability and a desire to exit the room. These inhalant abusers otherwise displayed no abnormality in perception, thought process and cognitive functioning. Many who indulge in such practices are well aware of their addictive behavioural problem, but are either uninterested or don’t have enough will-power to seek de-addition or therapeutic intervention.

The US National Institute on Drug Abuse recently cited the results from National Pregnancy and Health Survey which indicated that twelve thousand pregnant women every year abuse inhalants, with the first report of volatile substance abuse in pregnancy being published in 1979. The report disclosed that in expectant women who had abused solvent, their foetus displayed severe facial deformities, small head size and low birth weight that are analogous to those pregnant women who had alcohol exposure.

Clinical findings about new born children of such mothers commonly displayed growth deficiency, small head circumference, facial anomalies like cleft lip and developmental delay. These women also gave birth way prior to their due dates and some of them showed symptoms of palpitation, hyperventilation, irritability and sleeplessness subsequent to their delivery. Such women are then administered doses of benzodiazipine and supportive psychotherapy and following their discharge need rehabilitation treatment.

Such inhalant abusing expectant mothers need adequate counselling and convincing to undergo de-addiction program alongside ample motivation and support from near and dear ones.

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