Drug Addiction among Children

The National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) had published a report, namely, 'Inhalant Use Among Street Children in Delhi - A Situation Assessment' in 2008. The study reported that some form of substance use is very common among street children. The most common form of inhalant product used was ink eraser fluid.

Under the directions of the Hon’ble Punjab & Haryana High Court, Chandigarh in the matter of CWP No.1332 of 2010 - VyaktiVikas KendraIndia ‘Art of Living’ & others Vs Union of India and others on the issue of misuse by children / street children of correction fluid / thinner, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare issued a Notification on 17.7.2012 for regulating the manufacture / trade of these chemical substances. The measures mentioned in the said notification to be enforced include:

(i) Banning of production of bottled Correction Fluids as well as bottled Thinners, of any chemical composition, both for ink erasing purposes as well as for use as Nail Polish removers and similar other purposes for retail sale.

(ii) Banning of sale of bottled Correction Fluids as well as bottled Thinners, of any chemical composition, both for ink erasing purposes as well as for use as Nail Polish removers and similar other purposes.

(iii) Permitting sale of Correction Fluids as well as Thinners, of any chemical composition, both for ink erasing purposes as well as for use as Nail Polish removers and similar other purposes in the form of pens or similar devices which allow limited amounts of the chemicals to come out of those devices when used.

(iv) Mandatory warning should be made on the application devices (pens or otherwise) of correcting fluids / thinners regarding the effects on health on inhalation of vapor / consumption of the chemicals contained therein.

All the State Governments / Union Territory Administrations and the Central Government Ministries / Departments were requested to take immediate necessary action for enforcement of the measures contained in the said Notification, by sensitizing the industries producing them and the traders / shops distributing / selling them.

This information was given by Minister for Health & Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.