By Safaa Suleiman
LATAKIA, Syria (North Press) – On the streets of Latakia city on the western Syrian coast, behind trash bins and in the basements of abandoned buildings, young children are turning to sniffing glue as a means to escape their harsh realities and find fleeting moments of happiness.
These children, often oblivious to the grave risks it poses to their delicate minds and bodies, are deeply immersed in this dangerous habit.
They sniff an adhesive substance known as Sha’lla (The Flame), typically used for everyday purposes, as a means of escape and fleeting euphoria.
In one such derelict building, a three-year-old boy named Jabal is found clutching a bag of Sha’lla. Despite his parents’ desperate efforts to protect him from this harmful substance, he inhales it deeply.
Too young
Jabal, displaying a heartbreaking innocence, tells North Press, “I sniff Sha’lla and feel like I’m flying.”
When asked if the glue causes him stomach pain or dizziness, he acknowledges with a nod but declines to explain why he continues to use it.
His older brother, Muhammad, appears lethargic and unstable. He says that while sniffing the glue, he sometimes feels a sense of happiness, saying, “It feels like the world is shaking.”
He adds, “When I look up, it seems like the buildings are swaying. I feel disoriented.”
Muhammad reveals that other children introduced him to sniffing glue. Despite his father’s prohibition, Muhammad is unable to quit, having become addicted and accustomed to the substance.
Their father, Abbas Saado, tells North Press, “I have two sons who have inhaled glue for two years. They have become addicted, and I cannot do anything.”
Despite all his attempts to punish and deter them, he has been unsuccessful in breaking their habit.
He explains that his children often run away from home, sleep on the streets, and he frequently finds them at night, exhausted and sniffing the glue.
When he gives them money, they immediately buy the glue, finding joy in it despite his warnings about its dangers.
Saado adds that local troublemakers taught his children to use Sha’lla by luring them with money and promising it would give them strength and muscularity if they used it.
Mehshiyeh Umm Ali, whose son Jamal has been using Sha’lla for three months, tells North Press that her son has been sniffing glue for three months and is suffering greatly as a result.
She adds, her voice tinged with sadness, “He has not eaten well for five days.”
She has tried to force-feeding him, but he still refuses food, vomits frequently, and his legs are in pain. He also suffers from rheumatism.
Effects
Yousha’ Ammour, a specialist in psychiatric disorders and addiction treatment, tells North Press that this issue is particularly prevalent among child beggars and the very poor, who are drawn to it because it is both easily accessible and inexpensive.
He warns that this substance is extremely dangerous as it crosses the blood-brain barrier and directly impacts the brain.
Ammour explains that the glue disrupts the respiratory system, affecting the throat, lungs, and bronchi, and eventually harms the brain, which regulates bodily functions.
He says that initially, children may experience happiness and increased energy.
These effects, however, are short-lived, leading to severe fatigue, vision issues, nerve inflammation, and difficulty walking, he adds.
He notes that glue sniffing can trigger violent behavior, and lead to theft. Children might resort to illegal activities to obtain money for the substance, and prolonged use can be fatal.
Ammour emphasizes the urgency of addressing this crisis, calling for heightened awareness and stricter regulations to control or restrict the sale of Sha’lla, ensuring it is only available in regulated environments.