A Clinic-Based Study in Treatment-Seeking Adolescent Inhalant Users in India: Implications for Management

ABSTRACT

An exploratory study was conducted on 23 consecutive treatment-seeking adolescent inhalant users at a tertiary drug dependence treatment center in India. Sociodemographic, clinical parameters and neuropsychological functioning were assessed using semi-structured interview, Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI 3.0) for diagnosis, checklist for health damage and withdrawal symptoms, Malin's Intelligence Scale for Indian Children (MISIC), Memory for Design test and Stroop test. Routine biochemical testing and urinary hippuric acid level for recent inhalant use, measured using Gas Liquid Chromatography with Nitrogen Phosphorous Detector (GLC-NPD) was conducted. All participants were urban males (mean age 16 [SD = 1.8] years), who used either ink eraser fluid (87%) or glue (13%). Most participants experienced inhalant withdrawal (80%) and revealed high prevalence of psychiatric co-morbidity (52%), behavioral problems (43.5%), and neuropsychological deficits. Biochemical analysis validated recent (1–3 days) toluene exposure in 69.6% of participants, consistent with self-report. Management plans should take these issues into consideration.

KEYWORDS:

• adolescent
• assessment
• dependence
• inhalant
• management
• toluene