Databank. Solvent abuse

Databank

Solvent abuse

Figures released recently show that over the last ten years there has been a sustained decrease in the number of deaths associated with volatile substance abuse. While the data show that deaths associated with young people sniffing aerosols and glue have fallen significantly, the number of deaths associated with butane lighter fuels has remained steady. This accounted for 56 per cent of all sniffing deaths in 1998. To address this problem new legislation banning the sale of cigarette lighter refills to young people under the age of 18 came into force on 1 October 1999. Health Minister Gisela Stuart said that she had recently launched a new scheme which gets local GPs back into the classroom to teach primary schoolchildren important health messages and for the GPs to be on hand to answer questions about drugs and to teach children about the dangers of solvent abuse.