How to Stop My Friend From Sniffing Dendrite (A Glue Consisting Toluene and Other Intoxicants)?

Question by Shilajit: How to stop my friend from sniffing Dendrite (a glue consisting toluene and other intoxicants)?
[rewrite]Hey guys, I have a friend (Aged 24) who sniffs Dendrite every day. I know him almost 3 years now, and there hasn’t been a single day he didn’t do this thing. Sometimes he sniffs about 4-5 glue tubes a day. By now, he has become a junkie and he admits that he’s addicted. We’re all very concerned about his health as we know permanent brain damage is prevalent among users.
The most interesting part is this, he’s very well-educated and a very talented and struggling guitarist, an intellectual person I’d say, who’s interested in Classical/Jazz/Rock/Metal music and movies, unlike the usual abusers of this drug, who are mostly poor,homeless kids. He refuses to lay off of Dendrite for unknown reasons and we’re all pretty scared about this. Lately, I’ve been feeling his playing skills is lacking perfection. But that’s probably just me, and he isn’t really abnormal in any way and is quite a lovable person.
Rehab isn’t really an option, as the guy I’m talking about lives alone, away from his parents and they probably don’t know anything about this. When I ask him the reasons for sniffing glue, he just tells me that it’s the only thing that keeps his mind away from all the bullshit and depression and frustration,when the truth is, there isn’t really anything so frustrating. So probably he’s just making up excuses for sniffing more?
So, can anyone help me help him?
[/rewrite]

Best answer:
[rewrite]

Answer by Saya
First of all he has to realise that he has this problem. Before that, there is not much you can do besides explaining what sniffing glue does to his body.

Answer by jannsody
You’re smart to be so concerned about your friend. My friend actually has a severe BRAIN INJURY from inhalant use at the age of 12, now in her 30s.

Other risks of huffing include sight loss/blindness, heart/liver/kidney damage, seizures, limb spasms, hearing loss, bone marrow (fatty inner lining of bones that makes blood cells) damage or even death, all of which can happen after the very FIRST time of use.

The chemicals in products used for huffing are actual POISONS that were never meant to go through the bloodstream.

For more general info re: the dangers of huffing – National Inhalant Prevention Coalition: http://www.inhalants.org

Even though your friend is 24, there are certain times when a friend should TELL a secret, if even, anonymously, including threats of suicide or homicide, teen abuse or neglect, or if he/she is causing harm to him/herself.

Seriously, I’m sure that your friend’s parents would like to know about the inhalant use rather than having to either visit him in a Brain Injury rehabilitation hospital or actually burying him 6 feet underneath the ground!

Those who are expert in the field of addiction and inhalants have referred to huffing as “Chemical Russian roulette” as no one knows when the last time will be of that individual dying or getting permanent brain damage (or even damage to other organs).

This page from inhalants.org provides tips on dealing with someone who has just used inhalants (which includes *not* startling the person or he/she can end up with cardiac/heart arrhythmia and lead to cardiac arrest): http://www.inhalants.org/whatodo.htm

Please let your friend’s parents know of the support group, Al-Anon. That is for the friends and family of the problem drinker, but one may attend an “open” meeting if the loved one doesn’t have a drinking problem. Dr. Drew Pinsky, a physician who specializes in addiction medicine, has said that relatives and friends of those with addiction need to attend Al-Anon so that they are a part of the solution as opposed to a part of the problem. Here is their website: http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/

Your friend may indeed be self-medicating through the huffing. Inhalant addiction can be especially difficult to overcome since there are so many products out there that can be used as an inhalant.

Some people who have a craving for non-food items may have a mineral deficiency such as iron deficiency anemia. Please, however, let your friend know to NOT start taking iron pills until after getting a blood test for anemia (will need prescription from dr) and the doctor recommending them. Too much iron in the blood may result in liver (the largest internal organ) or kidney damage.

In order for the person with the addiction to “get into recovery”, he or she has to admit that he/she has a problem and is proactive and willing to do the work in treatment.

Addicts (and/or their families) may be in denial that they have a problem. A family intervention may be an option, though with no guarantees that the addict will agree to enter treatment. The goal of an intervention is to try to break through the denial of the addict that he/she does need outside professional help. Should the addict refuse treatment even after those participating in the intervention have spoken about how the person’s addiction has negatively affected their lives, then the addict is usually told of consequences from refusing treatment.

Please be aware that the addict is NOT usually told of the intervention beforehand, or he/she may not actually show up. It’s also best to include a licensed intervention counselor or at least a CAC (certified addiction counselor) for the entire intervention process.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a free 12-step program with self-help groups throughout the world. The only requirement is having a desire to get sober. One may attend an “open” AA meeting if there is no drinking problem: http://www.aa.org/

This site has some common mottos pertaining to those 12-step groups, such as “One day at a time”, “First things first” and “People, places and things”: http://www.royy.com/toolsofrecovery.html

To search for counseling and treatment programs for those with addiction problems (and there may be an intervention specialist at the location, too): http://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ and can click the first link and proceed from that point.

Their toll-free 24/7 *referral* hotline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

[/rewrite]

Find More Drug Rehab Treatment Options Information…