Pattern of Drug Abuse among Street Children of Dhaka: Inhalants are the Most Popular Drug

- Jesmin Jesmin,Jakir Hossain Bhuiyan Masud,Md Moniruzzaman Khan

doi:10.3329/dmcj.v6i1.35965

Abstract

Background: Number of street children has been rising in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, in recent years and also the prevalence of substance abuse is increasing among these children.Objective: This research work focuses on understanding street children’s perception/attitudes towards substance abuse.Materials and method: For this study, an inquiry based, self-administrated questionnaire was generated and a survey was conducted by authorized, trained persons. A total of 80 participants were enrolled in this initial research work.Results: Studying respondents from two major areas of Dhaka, it came out that sniffing dendrite is the most popular adhesive/inhalant among children because of its easy availability. For these children, the initiation process of sniffing adhesives starts as a part of street culture introduced by peers (87.5%, n = 70), for getting accepted into social street gangs. Thus, these children started drug abuse as a mean of endurance along with a little pleasure/escapism, even for a while to survive within the harsh reality of street life. Data from this initial study were used to build a topological-model of present/oncoming consequences/threats of substance abuse with suggested routes of social/medical interventions. The most encouraging fact is that understanding the adverse consequences of drug abuse, most of these children wanted to quit drug abuse (70%, n = 56) and wished for a better life.Conclusion: It is believed that this model would help in implementing measures for systematic drug abuse cessation for long-term rehabilitation programmes for these children, ensuring every child’s right to have a secured, healthy life.Delta Med Col J. Jan 2018 6(1): 29-34

Highlights

Tens of millions of children around the world find themselves living or working in the streets.[1]
The respondent group of the street children and youth selected for this study were aged between 12 to 18 (≤18) years who spent the majority of their time roaming &/or working on the street and not enrolled in any educational institution at that time, had limited or no contact with their family and spent both days and nights living and sleeping on the streets
Data generated through this study indicated that street children of Dhaka city, mostly sniff adhesive inhalants like gum, locally known as dandy along with smoking

Summary

Introduction

Tens of millions of children around the world find themselves living or working in the streets.[1]. Results: Studying respondents from two major areas of Dhaka, it came out that sniffing dendrite is the most popular adhesive/inhalant among children because of its easy availability For these children, the initiation process of sniffing adhesives starts as a part of street culture introduced by peers (87.5%, n = 70), for getting accepted into social street gangs. The initiation process of sniffing adhesives starts as a part of street culture introduced by peers (87.5%, n = 70), for getting accepted into social street gangs These children started drug abuse as a mean of endurance along with a little pleasure/escapism, even for a while to survive within the harsh reality of street life.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion