Chronic use produces depression of the central nervous system (CNS), alteration of neuropsychological functions, necrosis, nerve degeneration, and addiction ( Occasional exposure to activo ‒ solvent of industrial use ‒ produces headaches, dizziness and nausea ( ), as is the case with other industrial solvents including thinner, turpentine, gasoline, and cleaning fluids that have been studied for decades because of their psychoactive uses, availability, low cost, and minimal regulation (

This particular solvent, which is used as a drug, is a petroleum derivative, its primary ingredient being toluene ( Previous studies and other sources of information pointed out that, as it was an area of risk because of crime, and the sale and use of substances, training and the implementation of strategies were required before undertaking fieldwork there ( There, the San Hipólito church, visited monthly by devotees of San Judas Tadeo, is also a place where young adults, teenagers, and street children come together to sell and use inhalants. Some of the country’s most important economic, political, and cultural activities are concentrated in the Historic Center. This report therefore seeks to share the results of three years of research by describing and analyzing activo distribution and use processes among street children in the Historic Center of Mexico City. Little is known about the routes this substance follows between each link in the complicated buy-sell chain. Other studies have reported that children and adolescents preferred activo over other inhalants because it produces a greater high with fewer adverse consequences compared with paint thinner (ĭistribution of activo among “street children” ‒ though chronologically adults, emotionally and behaviorally they are more similar to children ‒ has not been studied because of the difficulty of working with marginalized, “hidden” and “inaccessible” populations ( This substance affects the nervous system producing tiredness, confusion, weakness, memory loss, nausea, loss of appetite, loss of hearing, and loss of vision. As part of this research project we analyzed different samples of toluene distributed, sold, and used in downtown Mexico City, and found it to be almost pure (98%). Activo is a substance with a similar effect to other inhalants, but with a more attractive smell and flavor. It first appeared on the streets in the 1990s, replacing paint thinner and glue, which were used in previous decades. However, the inhalable solvents market has been scarcely studied.Īccordingly, our work focuses on activo distribution (solvent of industrial use based on toluene). ) due to drug-related and other problems. Moreover, periodic records are kept of people who visit health or law enforcement facilities ( Other studies have been undertaken for vulnerable populations, including children and teenagers working and living in the streets ( Since then, drug use trends have been tracked through home and school surveys ( Inhalant use by children, teenagers and young adults is not a new phenomenon and has been documented in Mexico since the 1970s (

Que es ctivo