Narratives of Qom children on glue sniffing: Analysis from theperspective of risk and harm reduction

Abstract

This study is grounded in the ethical and epistemological need to question
the social conditions that reproduce inequalities and limit effective access to
rights. It seeks to produce situated knowledge that allows to understand and
addressing the use of psychoactive substances in childhood as a pressing
mental health issue, embedded in contexts of structural vulnerability. Objective:
to analyze the perspectives of Qom children’s on glue sniffing in
order to understand the vulnerability processes they experience, as well as
the spaces and practices of care within a community in Formosa. Methods
and Materials: This was a qualitative, cross-sectional study conducted in
2024. The sample consisted of 40 Qom boys and girls who participated in
interviews and in participant observation within the community. Data were
analyzed through coding and grounded theory. The results show that glue
sniffing is socially associated with violence, danger, and self-destruction,
generating fear and sadness within the community. Adult responses tend to
be framed by moral judgments, and institutions often resort to punitive measures,
such as institutionalization, focused on the substance rather than on
contextual factors. At the same time, 92% of the children participated in an
evangelical church, which emerges as a space of support and containment
for preventing or reducing substance use. Conclusions: The risk and harm
reduction model makes care practices visible, taking children’s voices and
participation as a fundamental basis within an intercultural approach.