Number of people dying from volatile substance abuse falls

The number of people who have died from sniffing aerosols, gas
and glue has fallen to its lowest rate for nearly 20 years,
according to a report from the department of health,
writes Anabel Unity Sale.

The new statistics revealed there were 64 deaths associated with
abusing gas fuels, glues, aerosols and other solvent based products
in 2000. This compares with 75 deaths from volatile substances in
1999.

The report was complied by St George’s Hospital Medical
School public health sciences department. It found half of all
deaths in 2000 were due to gas fuels, mainly butane lighter
refills. The number of deaths among under 18-year-olds associated
with lighter fuel abuse dropped by 55 per cent, compared with the
average for the previous seven years.

‘Trends in death associated with abuse of volatile substances
1971-2000’ from www.vsareport.org