Our glue-sniffing epidemic shame

Police Liaison Ivy Minniecon is concerned about the increase of glue sniffing in the region.

Scottie Simmonds

GLUE-sniffing is reaching epidemic proportions with children as young as 10 being caught in the act around the Bundaberg CBD, police say.

Senior Constable Ricky Lynch of Bundaberg police said children and teens between 10 and 17 have been spotted inhaling glue substances in carparks and behind businesses in the CBD and in parks in Bundaberg West.

Snr Const Lynch said the children had been either buying or stealing solvent-based products to inhale from Bundaberg shops.

They include everyday items such as liquid paper, Tarzan’s Grip, Kwik Grip and Selleys All Clear.

“The shops that sell these kinds of products can help by improving their security measures by placing them in an area in clear view of staff,” he said.

“Also be on the lookout for youths loitering around those products in their stores.”

Snr Const Lynch said police had noticed a rise in the number of youths sniffing glue, but it was not an offence.

It is an offence for shops to sell such solvent-based products to a person believed to be buying the product to inhale or ingest.

Bundaberg police are taking a “no tolerance” approach to anyone found sniffing glue.

Snr Const Lynch said it was hoped by finding these children they could be given the necessary help and he asked the public to help out by reporting any children they see sniffing glue.

“What people should be looking around for is groups of youths loitering in public areas placing plastic bags to their face area,” he said.

Snr Const Lynch warned against approaching them, as glue-sniffing elevated the heart rate and could cause severe health problems, even death, if the heart was taxed.

Bundaberg Hospital director of emergency management Greg Treston said glue-sniffing could be fatal.

“A sniffer is at risk of suffocating because they sniff the glue from a bag around the mouth, which could be too tight around their face, they could have a lack of oxygen to the brain, choke on their vomit, suffer a heart attack or stroke,” Dr Treston said.

Taylor’s Hardware sales assistant Adam Taylor said the store regularly had young people hanging around the glue and solvent-based products aisle.

Mr Taylor said the aisle where the products were was visible from the counter and staff knew to watch it closely.

“Pretty much this year it has been 10 times worse than before,” he said.

Kepnock State High School principal Jenny Maier said the school had not noticed a problem with glue-sniffing.

“We have been informed about it by our school-based police officer so we are keeping an eye out for it,” she said.

“The last thing we need is our students abusing any kind of substance when they are focusing on their studies.”

Glue-sniffing's Immediate affects:

• Nausea
• Diarrhoea
• Bad breath
• Nosebleeds
• Bloodshot eyes
• Sores around the mouth and nose