After having been alerted to the problem of glue huffing children in Kolkata, I’m just beginning to realize–and hopefully understand–the extent and severity of the problem.
The number of street kids I’ve seen sniffing glue is literally in the hundreds. Kids do it while their parents watch. I’ve seen kids from around five to older than I am do it. I saw one guy around my age sniffing glue and it was clear that he had some serious brain damage very likely because of the glue. I’ve seen kids with a rag to their nose with dazed looks and very young children showing signs of brain damage inhaling bags with glue in them. Once when I was walking down a railway platform, I saw an emaciated child nearly passed out and hallucinating badly with a rag and a bottle of glue under him.
I’ve seen all of this since I wrote my last blog. It really breaks my heart, especially because of the low success rate of rehabilitation programs and the lack of attention and help that this monstrous problem gets.
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Hear me in the context of all God is teaching you, and listen to the Spirit leading you once you come back with the full experience and relationships. I just think this sounds like a possible social consequence of poverty focus/life calling or challenge simmering.
One in a Rescuer Who mourns with the miserable, our hearts break with you for the brain damage and dazed lives, more so for the need… the need to escape through glue.
Comment by Little Debbie [Deborah Graaff] 28 June 2009 @ 3:00 amI haven’t been able to find the movie Glue Boys yet, but I’ve been reading up about glue huffing. It really breaks my heart…and I realized it’s very common in Arusha, Tanzania. Continue to let the holy spirit guide you. He really is working in your heart.
Comment by Emi 29 June 2009 @ 5:18 pm