The rise of inhalant abuse among Lusaka’s youth

The dangerous substances people use to get high or drunk can be right in front of us, disguised as ordinary everyday products and for some young people in Lusaka, getting high does not necessarily mean finding an illegal drug dealer. Glue, paint thinners, petrol, methylated spirit and other everyday chemical products can become substances of […]

The dangerous substances people use to get high or drunk can be right in front of us, disguised as ordinary everyday products and for some young people in Lusaka, getting high does not necessarily mean finding an illegal drug dealer. 

Glue, paint thinners, petrol, methylated spirit and other everyday chemical products can become substances of abuse when their fumes are deliberately inhaled. The practice is not new. Solvent misuse has existed among sections of Lusaka’s youth for years, occasionally attracting public attention before disappearing from the conversation. 

But the fact that it is less visible does not mean the problem has disappeared. The attraction is the temporary feeling produced by inhaling chemical fumes. 

Dizziness, euphoria, confusion and altered perception can follow. What may begin as curiosity, experimentation or an attempt to escape difficult circumstances can eventually develop into harmful substance use.

According to Mr. Gabriel Lungu, Principal Mental Health Officer at the Ministry of Health, addiction can develop through repeated exposure to substances that produce rewarding effects. 

Mr. Lungu explains that dependence involves physical and psychological changes that develop through repeated substance use.

He also says that young people are particularly vulnerable because they are at a stage of life characterized by curiosity, exploration and the desire to fit in. 

“The young people we are talking about are mainly the adolescents. These are the most curious and most productive and interactive age group, who are really exploring the world and, of course, trying to fit themselves in the spaces available,” he says.

Unlike many illegal drugs, some inhalants can be found in homes, shops and workplaces and may be relatively inexpensive. Their legal and ordinary purpose can also create the false impression that they are harmless.

But inhaling them is far from harmless. The effects can include dizziness, slurred speech, confusion, poor coordination, impaired memory and hallucinations. 

In severe cases, substance exposure can result in seizures, unconsciousness and other life-threatening complications. The specific effects depend on the chemical involved, how much is used and how frequently it is inhaled.

The damage can also go beyond the immediate high. Repeated exposure to certain chemicals can affect the brain and nervous system and may damage organs such as the liver and kidneys. 

For young people whose bodies and brains are still developing, continued exposure to toxic substances is particularly concerning.

However, “sniffing” should not be treated as though every chemical carries exactly the same risk. 

Different products contain 

different chemicals, meaning their effects can vary. Methanol, for example, can cause severe poisoning and visual damage, but it would be misleading to suggest that every product described as methylated spirit will automatically cause blindness.

The reasons young people turn to these substances also need attention. Poverty, peer pressure, family difficulties, school pressures, homelessness and emotional distress can all contribute to substance misuse. This means that simply telling young people to stop may not be enough. Prevention must also address the circumstances that make them vulnerable to substance use.

For 18-year-old Emmanuel Lubinda, peer pressure became part of his own experience with substance use. Recalling how he started smoking, Lubinda says, “I used to smoke just because my friends used to do it as well. I was induced by peer pressure from friends, guy friends that I used to play with.”

Stopping, however, was not simply a matter of deciding to quit. “I stopped drinking about a year and a half ago because of advice from my family and from the church,” Lubinda says. 

He explains that he also had to distance himself from friends who had influenced him to smoke and drink, while learning other ways to distract himself whenever he felt the urge to return to those habits.

Lubinda’s experience illustrates how the influence that contributes to substance use can also be challenged by changing one’s environment and support system. Growing up in a Christian household, he says his family and church provided advice and guidance, while distancing himself from friends who encouraged the behavior helped him move away from smoking and drinking.

Mr. Lungu identifies peer pressure as one of the factors that can influence young people’s substance use. 

“They would want to engage in what others are also doing,” he says. He also explains that some young people turn to substances as a way of coping with difficulties in their lives. “They would want to engage in substances to calm down themselves, and of course deal with the internal issues,” he says.

Substances can also become a way of seeking confidence or belonging. Mr. Lungu says some young people with low self-esteem may use substances because they believe they will help them become more confident. 

“For them to really become that confident, they will take these substances to boost their confidence,” he says.

Mr. Lungu says effective addiction treatment must recognize that no single treatment is appropriate for everyone. Counselling, behavioral therapies and other forms of support can be important, particularly for people who have developed dependence. He also notes that detoxification is only the first stage of treatment and does not, by itself, address long-term substance use.

For Lusaka, the bigger question is how long the problem can remain at the edges of public conversation and side eyes given from the public. There is a need for better information about how many young people are affected, what substances they are using and why they are turning to them. 

That information could help schools, health authorities, families and community organisations develop more targeted responses.

The products may be ordinary commercial goods, but deliberately inhaling their fumes can have extraordinary consequences. Lusaka does not need another temporary reaction to the sniffing problem. It needs sustained prevention, education, treatment and support for young people before a temporary escape becomes a lasting problem.

📸: Purdue Global