Butane lighter fuel kills more than half of young
solvent abusers
Child solvent abuse ‘forgotten’
The first national conference to highlight the
“ignored” problem of solvent abuse is being held. Abuse such as glue and gas sniffing and inhaling
sprays, kills more young people every year than heroine, cocaine and
ecstasy combined. The charity Solve It will raise awareness of the
issues at the event in Northamptonshire on Thursday. Five children aged 10 to 19 die every month, more than
half from sniffing butane lighter refills.
Hair spray
But the charity said the problem was being ignored by
the government, which has not run a concerted campaign on solvent abuse
since the early 1990s. Solve It said it cannot get access to the wealth of
funding allocated to tackle illegal drugs,
Chief executive Barbara Skinner MBE set up the charity
in 1989, after her 16-year-old son died due to solvent abuse. The group claims the average family home has around 30
products on its shelves, which when abused by children can kill — even
the very first time they're sniffed or inhaled. This includes products such as hair sprays, glues, and
lighter fuels.
Solvent abuse
In 39% of deaths there is no evidence of previous
abuse.
- Solvent abuse accounts for one in six of all deaths in
the UK's 15-19 age group
- Butane lighter fuel kills 50.8% of victims
- Death occurs through toxic effects, suffocation,
inhalation of vomit, and accidents
- The symptoms of abuse are 'similar to those of normal
adolescence'
- Sniffing is not illegal
Source: Solve It, figures for 2000
Children as young as seven are among the average of 60
deaths per year. Since the charity began, more than 660 young people
have died through abusing solvents, while 60 have fallen victim to
ecstasy use.
Announcing the conference, Solve It's head of
marketing and fundraising Steve Lambert said: “There are still far too
many people who believe the issue of solvent abuse was a problem in the
1970s and 80s, but one that has miraculously disappeared. Far from it. Our mission is to prevent this wasteful
loss of life,” he said.
The charity provides a free information and advice
service to young people, parents, carers and others affected by abuse.
14 November 2003
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3266267.stm
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