(UK) Deaths from glue and substance sniffing have doubled in parts of the region over the past decade.
Figures released by St George Hospital Medical School, London, show that over the past ten years, the region had the highest death rate for volatile substance abuse (VSA) in England.
In response to the figures Re-Solv, the Society for the Prevention of Solvent and Volatile Substance Abuse, is launching a campaign to tackle substance abuse among youngsters in the area.
The latest set of mortality figures, for 2001, show that there were three deaths in the North-East and in Yorkshire the figure had doubled from five to ten.
Warren Hawksley, the director of Re-Solv, said the figure for Yorkshire in particular was alarming.
He said: "Among the regions, there have been some fall in deaths and some rises, but Yorkshire and Northern Ireland have both doubled, which is not good news."
The figures also show that the number of deaths from VSA among under-18's nationally has almost doubled, returning to the 1999 statistic gathered before the introduction of the Cigarette Lighter Refill (Safety) Regulations, which restricted ways by which young people could obtain refills.
Mr Hawksley said: "The legislation made it an offence for retailers to supply any cigarette lighter canister containing butane to anyone under 18 and in the following year, deaths among this age-group from VSA fell by 35 per cent, which was very encouraging.
"We are saddened that the latest figures reflect the illegal sales of butane cigarette lighter refills to these young people."
Re-Solv's campaign will look to help 16-to-18-year-olds avoid substance abuse.
It will be aimed at retailers and council Trading Standards officers.
Barry Oakley, from Re-Solv, said: "We need everyone to be reminded of the law and we want Trading Standards Officers to enforce it.
"VSA is a killer, claiming eight times as many lives nationwide than the much talked about drug Ecstacy. We must protect these youngsters and bring these figures down."
For more information about organisations that deal with solvent abuse, call Re-Solv's free national helpline on (0808) 800 2345.
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by Kate Bowman
7/21/03
Figures released by St George Hospital Medical School, London, show that over the past ten years, the region had the highest death rate for volatile substance abuse (VSA) in England.
In response to the figures Re-Solv, the Society for the Prevention of Solvent and Volatile Substance Abuse, is launching a campaign to tackle substance abuse among youngsters in the area.
The latest set of mortality figures, for 2001, show that there were three deaths in the North-East and in Yorkshire the figure had doubled from five to ten.
Warren Hawksley, the director of Re-Solv, said the figure for Yorkshire in particular was alarming.
He said: "Among the regions, there have been some fall in deaths and some rises, but Yorkshire and Northern Ireland have both doubled, which is not good news."
The figures also show that the number of deaths from VSA among under-18's nationally has almost doubled, returning to the 1999 statistic gathered before the introduction of the Cigarette Lighter Refill (Safety) Regulations, which restricted ways by which young people could obtain refills.
Mr Hawksley said: "The legislation made it an offence for retailers to supply any cigarette lighter canister containing butane to anyone under 18 and in the following year, deaths among this age-group from VSA fell by 35 per cent, which was very encouraging.
"We are saddened that the latest figures reflect the illegal sales of butane cigarette lighter refills to these young people."
Re-Solv's campaign will look to help 16-to-18-year-olds avoid substance abuse.
It will be aimed at retailers and council Trading Standards officers.
Barry Oakley, from Re-Solv, said: "We need everyone to be reminded of the law and we want Trading Standards Officers to enforce it.
"VSA is a killer, claiming eight times as many lives nationwide than the much talked about drug Ecstacy. We must protect these youngsters and bring these figures down."
For more information about organisations that deal with solvent abuse, call Re-Solv's free national helpline on (0808) 800 2345.
link
by Kate Bowman
7/21/03
