Whitener high gives cops a headache

The police have found that the addiction to whitener has spread among juvenile criminals and children from slums and streets. Children pour whitener on a kerchief and use it as an inhaler,which gives them a high for four to 10 hours. A 15 ml bottle of whitener along with a diluter of the same quantity costs around Rs 25-30.

Three minor boys recently held by Wanavdi police for allegedly gangraping and assaulting a minor girl at Ramtekdi slums,were found to be addicted to whitener.

Senior police officers discussed the issue in a meeting held recently. “It is a matter of concern that a lot of minors are getting addicted to whitener,which is a stationery product easily available in the market,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Anti-Narcotics Cell) Rajendra Dahale.

“We have sought the opinion of our team of legal experts on the issue. We would soon come out with a strategy to address the problem,” he said.

Meanwhile,the Wanavdi police issued letters to several shop-owners in its jurisdiction asking them to sell a whitener only to students or office-goers.

“We cannot arrest anyone for selling or purchasing whiteners. But we have issued letters to shop owners so as to create awareness among them,” said inspector Shivajirao Kanase of Wanavdi police station.

Mayuresh Phatak,Maharashtra state president of Go India Foundation,which conducted a study of street children on J M Road last year said,“Most of the street children were inhaling whiteners daily.”

300% more harmful than alcohol
“Inhaling whiteners is 300 per cent more harmful than regular alcohol. It directly affects the nervous system and hampers functioning of lungs,brain,kidneys,” said Dr Dnyaneshwari Patharkar,associated with Go India Foundation. A whitener is sold with a diluter that is an organic solvent (hydrocarbon) like toluene,trichloroethylene,methyl benzene,which are alcoholic. The organic solvents when deeply inhaled give a sudden kick.