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Original poster

Does anyone know anything about glue sniffing? Think I did something stupid...

35 replies

MistressoftheMundane · 05/12/2021 16:45

Nipped out for some Christmas decs this afternoon and there was a homeless man sat in the rain outside Home Bargains.

I asked him if I could get him anything, and he asked for some superglue (and a book of crosswords, bless him!)

I said "What do you need superglue for?" (cos it seemed a strange request!) and he showed me his shoe which had a sole hanging off it.

So I bought him the glue along with some other bits and pieces.

My husband is telling me I'm an idiot because the man is probably going to sniff it, but his shoe broke my heart and it seemed like such a humble request. Please tell me that you don't think I made a mistake. I think you can potentially die from sniffing glue, can't you? I feel awful. Can't stop thinking about him...

OP posts:

IAmHereForTheFood · 05/12/2021 16:50

He probably just wants to fix his shoe. It’s cold and wet and his feet will be getting wet.
Don’t worry yourself. If he was going to get high he will do so regardless of you buying him superglue.

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 05/12/2021 16:50

Excuse my naivety but isnt it more likely that it is to repair his shoe given the small size of superglue and the fact it wouldnt be the easiest thing to inhale??? Normally it is cans of things people inhale, or at least i thought that.

MorkandMandy · 05/12/2021 16:51

Don’t worry OP. I’m pretty sure that wouldn’t be the solvent of choice.

Yoyooo · 05/12/2021 16:52

I would have bought him some wellies in home bargains

MangoBiscuit · 05/12/2021 16:52

Far more likely for the shoe.

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 05/12/2021 16:53

To add, I remember there being alot about glue sniffing in the 80’s, but i dont think its a thing really now?

Coronado2 · 05/12/2021 16:53

@WowIlikereallyhateyou

I am quite naive but this would be my thinking too - surely if you're going to sniff glue you don't want a small tube of superglue?

He probably genuinely wanted to fix his shoe.

Chemenger · 05/12/2021 16:53

I don’t think superglue has solvent that anyone would want to sniff.

ArblemarchTFruitbat · 05/12/2021 16:54

I'm assuming you'd have bought him a small tube of superglue - if he is a habitual glue-sniffer, that's not going to kill him. If it was the watery type of superglue, I don't think it's sniffable - lots of glues nowadays aren't.

You don't seem to see much glue-sniffing in 2021 - not like the 80s when all the subways were littered with Evo-Stik and carrier bags. It's not a given that this man wanted the glue to sniff.

Even if he is a sniffer, his habits aren't your fault. You did a kind thing with the best of intentions - if he lied to you, that's on him, not you.

Smokeahontas · 05/12/2021 16:54

If it was one of the tiny little tubes, you’re fine.

Mrsjayy · 05/12/2021 16:56

I don't think many people glue sniff nowadays and if they do it isn't a little tube of superglue , the man just wanted to fix his shoe.

Original poster

MistressoftheMundane · 05/12/2021 16:58

Oh, thank you everyone. I did actually look to see if there was any shoes in HB (we asked him what size he was) but they inly had slippers which wouldn't have been v practical. I bought him some thermal socks though, and I've put a call out on our local FB group for anyone with any spare shoes.

I reckon it would be quite hard to sniff a tiny tube without sticking it to your ow face, wouldn't it?

OP posts:

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 05/12/2021 16:59

It would OP, you did a really kind thing. Don’t bear yourself up about it.

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 05/12/2021 16:59

*beat

Mamette · 05/12/2021 17:02

I reckon it would be quite hard to sniff a tiny tube without sticking it to your ow face, wouldn't it?

When people sniff glue they put it on a plastic bag but don’t worry OP, I think pps are right and superglue isn’t the right kind of glue. I’m not sure they even make the sniffing kind much anymore, if at all.

Idontevenknow · 05/12/2021 17:04

It's for the shoes, you did a good thing

cosmopolitanplease · 05/12/2021 17:06

Ex glue sniffer here. Superglue is no good for sniffing. Now if he'd asked for thixofix 'to stick down floor tiles' or q-tips cement 'to mend my pool cue' you might have something to worry about

thefirstmrsrochester · 05/12/2021 17:08

You did a truly lovely thing op, and I don’t for a minute imaging he’d want superglue for anything other than repairing his shoe. You gave him dignity in him being able to make his shoes watertight. That’s a very special thing you did

Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 05/12/2021 17:10

Does anyone remember UHU?
It smelled quite nice, I remember being in The Brownies (in the 70s) and we used it for various projects all day around sniffing UHU completely unaware of possible dangers.
You did a nice thing OP.

Ihopeyourcakeisshit · 05/12/2021 17:11

*all of us around table that should read.

Helpstopthepain · 05/12/2021 17:16

Wrong sort of glue op, I think you are safe!

ArblemarchTFruitbat · 05/12/2021 17:18

Evo-stick was what the glue sniffers down our way used to use. My dad usually had some in (for legitimate DIY purposes) and it really did pong - it was overpowering. A lot has been done in the last 40 years or so to reduce solvents in glues available to the public.

HighlandPony · 05/12/2021 17:21

Nobody sniffs superglue like that. If he wanted to buzz something he’d have asked for an aerosol. Take if from one who grew up on the wrong side of the tracks.

notacooldad · 05/12/2021 17:23

I used to sniff glue in the 80s as a daft teenager. I've not heard anyone doing it In years!! I'm going with the shoe repair reason!

TheSunIsStillShining · 05/12/2021 18:01

in the early 00's glue content have been modified in all of EU to not contain the ingredient that was used for intoxicating oneself.
So atm feel free to sniff any over the counter/common glue - you'll have a hard time knocking yourself out.

there are still some industrial glues left that are worth their money in this regard, but you'd have to go to specialist shops for them. even paint thinners have been changed for the same reason. and nailpolish removers.

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