Street urchins sniffing glue
Just a few metres away from Tejgaon level crossing a group of teenage boys were found eagerly inhaling something from a polythene bag in a scrap shop. When approached, they were found in an intoxicated state.
Uzzal, a 16-year old boy, and his glue-sniffing mates were found disturbed by some unexpected queries from a stranger. At one stage, annoyed Uzzal said they were taking 'dandy', quite a popular name amongst the teenage drug addicts in the country.
'Dandy' is nothing but the vapour of solutions that are prepared for use in repairing or joining items of leather, rubber etc. After opening the cover of a solution packet, it is kept in a polythene bag. And then the vapour of solution is taken by inhaling and exhaling until it is exhausted.
In addition to popular narcotics, rubber solutions have become popular amongst the teenagers specially in underprivileged class, for the last couple of years. Even some adolescents from middle class are also inhaling solutions as supplementary drugs without knowing its bad impact on their health. Experts say it may destroy central nervous system and damage vital organs such as liver and lungs.
Uzzal and his gang were found taking vapour of a locally made synthetic rubber adhesive's popular brand 'Diamondnal'. Other brands such as 'Fresh' are also easily available in hardware shops in the country.
"We buy one solution from hardware shops paying around Tk 25. Even sellers of the shops also know the reason behind the purchase since there are thousands of 'dandy' addicts in the city," said Uzzal who has been taking dandy and other drugs for last few years with his friends most of whom are rag pickers.
"After taking the vapour for half an hour we feel very relaxed,” said a 15-year old Ibrahim of the gang adding, "We begin our day taking 'dandy'. We also take other drugs such as ganja collecting from Fokirni Bazar Bosti under Tejgaon Police Station."
All the members of the group are teenagers and rag pickers by profession. For collecting money to buy drugs they steal valuables at different corners of the city. They spend the day together taking various drugs at different scrap shops near Tejgaon level crossing.
"We take ganja throughout the daytime and at evening we take Jhakki, (jhakki is a cocktail of drugs such as unoctin, seduxen, phenergan and citin). We collect these from Karwan Bazar area," said Rajib, a rag picker.
Well, Tejgaon is not the lone place for such drug abusers in the city. Karwan Bazar, Begunbari, Kamlapur and Sadarghat are other hot spots where the teenage rag pickers take various types of drugs.
Even it is quite popular in other district towns such as Sylhet and Bogra. Unaware of dangerous effect, teenagers from other classes are also becoming addict to dandy.
Sources at the Department of Narcotics Control said they are well informed about the use of solutions as substitute drugs in the city and other district towns. But action against such drug abuse is quite difficult since solutions are not banned, according to the sources.
Even doctors who deal with drug abusers are concerned of the matter but they do not have in-depth study in that, said Dr. M Khosru Parvez Chowdhury, a teacher of National Mental Health Institute and Hospital.
He said "For the last couple of years we know that the underprivileged children are addicted to solutions. But they never approach us for rehabilitation."
Dr. Chowdhury suggests to carry out in-depth study on the drug abusers belonging to underprivileged class. "We consider drug abuse as a mental disorder. If it is addressed properly, social crime will be reduced," he said.
About the bad impact of taking rubber solutions ABM Faroqe, professor of Pharmaceuticals Engineering department of Dhaka University, said "The main element of any leather solution is organic solvents for which its users feel drowsiness. These organic solvents contain toxic chemicals such as carbon tri-chloride, toluene, acetone and benzene. Vapour of such toxic substances has an adverse impact on the central nervous system (CNS). "
"If CNS is affected by the drug, the users will feel listless. It will damage their memory and affect their lungs drastically. There is every possibility of growing lung cancer and asthma. Moreover, such organic solvents may cause liver cirrhosis and even liver cancer."
But police is unaware of the use of rubber solutions as an alternative drug amongst the underprivileged teenagers.
When contacted, the duty officer of Tejgaon Police Station said they did not know anything about the drug abuse. They will investigate the matter, he said.
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