What is glue sniffing?

Glue sniffing is commonest among young adults, and is potentially lethal. Glue sniffing can lead to mental retardation, severe ill health and even death due to liver, kidney or brain failure.

How does it affect your body?

Glue sniffing stimulates your central nervous system, which can lead to depression. Whenever you sniff a drug, it reaches the brain much more rapidly (in a matter of seconds), than if you were to swallow it. The effects are almost similar to those of drinking an alcoholic beverage including;

• Lack of co-ordination,
• Restlessness,
• Confusion,
• Excitement,
• Dizziness,
• Giddiness,
• Butterfly feeling,
• Disorientation,
• Hallucinations and,
• Coma if inhaled for lengthy periods in unventilated areas.

What are the long-term effects of glue sniffing?

Exposure to solvents or glue sniffing may lead to;

• Muscular weakness,
• Fatigue,
• Nausea and vomiting,
• Abdominal pain, and
• Weight loss;
• Neurological effects like confusion, lack of co-ordination, tremor, itching and nerves paralysis.

What are the complications of glue sniffing?

The most adverse effects that the long-term glue sniffing produces is the serious damage to your brain, liver and kidneys.