Child solvent abuse 'forgotten'

Butane lighter fuel kills more than half of young solvent abusers

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.