NCJ Number
177493
Journal
Adolescence Volume: 33 Issue: 132 Dated: Winter 1998 Pages: 877-889
Date Published
1998
Length
13 pages
Annotation
Semistructured interviews were conducted with 40 high school students in the metropolitan area of Perth, Western Australia, who reported inhaling volatile solvents.
Abstract
The sample included 19 male and 5 female Aboriginal users and 11 male and 5 female non-Aboriginal users who ranged in age from 12 to 17 years. Individuals were identified as being volatile solvent users from previous research. All were aware of the short-term health risks involved in volatile solvent use, and most reported experiencing ill effects such as headaches and vomiting. However, they tended to focus on these short-term effects rather than on long-term consequences. It was found that volatile solvent users could be organized into groups and peer networks that were often involved in theft, prostitution, and other risk-taking behaviors. More chronic volatile solvent users had higher status within groups. Students indicated interventions to prevent volatile solvent use should include attempts to remove individuals from the volatile solvent use environment and education to raise awareness of the dangers. 24 references