Glue sniffing.
Inhalant abuse refers to the inhalation of volatile substances for their euphoric effects. Glues and adhesives have been abused inhalants for decades and so the term "glue sniffing" attached to the habit. These days many substances used are not adhesives and the most accurate title of "solvent abuse" has been given to this widespread and dangerous habit. The various methods of inhalational abuse include huffing, bagging, dusting, glading, and sniffing. We report one such case of a 22-year-old male who was found in an unresponsive state at his residence with a plastic cover around his head and empty tubes of "Fevibond" glue beside him. He died on the way to hospital. At autopsy, conjunctival and visceral congestion were found with pulmonary edema and petechiae over visceral pericardium. The viscera were analyzed, and the presence of toluene in his liver and blood was reported.
Department of Forensic Medicine, M.S. Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore, India.
S H
SH
Jayanth
Department of Forensic Medicine, M.S. Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore, India.
Basappa S
BS
Hugar
Department of Forensic Medicine, M.S. Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore, India.
S
S
Praveen
Department of Forensic Medicine, M.S. Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore, India.
Y P
YP
Girish Chandra
D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D058545:Inhalant Abuse / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D014050:Toluene / Q000009:adverse effects; D055815:Young Adult
D014050:Toluene
Solvent abuse; autopsy; bagging; glue; sudden death; toluene