Toolkit 1 Volatile Substance Abuse:

Still a Problem?

• Understand what Volatile Substance Abuse (VSA) is• Understand the broad dangers associated with VSA• Know VSA mortality rates and trends • Know prevalence rates as far as is possible• Know what products are used in VSA• Understand supply side legislation

Toolkit completion aims

Aims

The products abused* change over time

The glue sniffing of the past has become the butane gas and aerosol buzzing* of recent years

VSA has not gone away

What is VSA?

*see slide notes

VSA definition

The deliberate inhalation of volatile chemicals, gases and solvents found in consumer and

industrial products through the mouth and/or nose, for the sole purpose of achieving a ‘high’.

What is VSA?

What are volatile substances?• Common terms for VSA include ‘buzzing,’ ‘huffing,’ ‘sniffing,’

‘bagging’.• Volatile Substances* comprise a large group of gases and

compounds.• Butane in cigarette lighter refills is the most commonly used

volatile substance in recent years. It is colourless and odourless.

• Butane and propane are used as the propellant in aerosols.

What is VSA?

*see slide notes

The effects of volatile substances

• Inhalation produces rapid, short acting intoxication. • Recovery from the psychoactive* phase is rapid - within

15 - 30 minutes; from the intense phase just a few minutes.

What is VSA?

*see slide notes

Appeal of volatile substances

• Accessible*• Inexpensive• Legal, innocuous*• The effect: extreme, hallucinations often reported • Readily available despite legislation• Easy to conceal• Control: rapid intoxication and rapid resolution of

intoxication: can use and return to a ‘sober’ state quickly

What is VSA?

*see slide notes

Some reasons why people use*

• “I buy mine from supermarkets online. I felt too conspicuous in shops, but no one ever questioned why I was buying 15 deodorants at a time”

• “There’s no dunt like a gas dunt.”• “I bet I could find something in this room.”• “Buzzin’ takes me to another place….away from all the crap in my life.”• “It’s been my road to hell.”• “My brothers were doing it so I tried it.”• “My ma drinks..….this is my drink.” • “Yeah, I know I can die doing it. So what? I don’t care.”• “I saw my cousin sniffing hairspray. I only did it once. Am I addicted

now?”

What is VSA?

*see slide notes

“VSA is too dangerous – don't do it” ACMD

(Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs)*

VSA Dangers

*see slide notes

VSA Dangers

Why is VSA of concern?• VSA can and does kill - even on the first use.• Sudden Sniffing Death is unique to VSA (see next slide).• Almost 2,400 recorded deaths in the UK.• Absolute Harm Reduction is not an option – there are no ‘safe’

methods of use.• Very hidden activity.• Associated with young people – youngest deaths aged 7 (1997,

2003).• But not exclusively – oldest death 85 (2008).• Legislative control of the products used in VSA is extremely

difficult, if not impossible.*• VSA is not illegal.*• Can cause an aggressive effect. *see slide notes

Sudden Sniffing Death* Gases, aerosols, and solvents can make the heart oversensitive to the effect of adrenaline. A burst of activity leads to more adrenaline, leading to an even greater risk of death.

This oversensitivity can remain for several hours following recovery from the psychoactive phase.

A heart that stops beating as a result of VSA can be very difficult to resuscitate. Defibrillation needs to be administered within 10 minutes.

VSA Dangers

*see slide notes

Mortality

Medical research teams at St George’s, University of London, have provided the Trends in UK Deaths Associated with Abuse of Volatile Substances Report since 1971.

Mortality details on the following 3 slides all taken from the most recent report.*

VSA Mortality

*see slide notes

Since 1971, VSA has claimed over 2,390 lives in the UK, with 327 deaths in Scotland. Up to 2000, almost 2/3 of deaths were of young people under the age of 19 with the most common age of death being 15.

The mean age of death in the UK from 2000-2009 is 30.

The youngest deaths reported were of 7-year-olds (2003, 1997).

VSA kills more young people aged 15 and under than all illegal substances.

67%

11%

11%

11%

gas fuels aerosols nitrous oxide other

Deaths by primary substance abused in 2009 in the UK

VSA Mortality

Mortality

MortalityStandardised Mortality Ratios (SMRs)*, 2000-2009. All ages.

172

179

91 89

8374

73

111129

129

70

112

Government Region SMR 2009 deathsNorth East 129 3North West 73 5Yorkshire/Humber 112 3East Midlands 129 2West Midlands 111 2East 89 4London 70 3South East 83 3South West 74 0England (all) 90 25Wales 91 1Scotland 172 17Northern Ireland 179 3

VSA Mortality

*see slide notes

Males are at higher risk of death

VSA Mortality

Gender distribution of VSA death

2009 2000-2009

Male 35 (73.9%) 420 (78.5%)

Female 12 (26.1%) 115 (21.5%)

However, the proportion of adult females (18-years or older) dying from VSA has increased over time, from 1% between 1983-87 (6 deaths) to 17% between 2003-07 (45 deaths).

VSA prevalence:difficult to determine

VSA Prevalence

The British Crime Survey* measured substance use amongst 16-59 year olds in England & Wales. Figures from the survey for 2010/11:

• Experimental users rarely engage with substance misuse services• Chronic users often report that self stigma prevents them from

disclosure and/or service engagement

Ever UsedCocaine 9.6%

VSA 2.3%Heroin 0.8%

*see slide notes

Reported Use of Individual Substances, Ever: 13 and 15 years old

Extract: from Table 4.6 SALSUS (Scottish Adolescent Lifestyle And Substance Abuse Survey) 2010*

Solvents, glues and gases

2008 2010

13 year-olds 2% 2%

15 year-olds 4% 3%

Poppers*2008 2010

13 year-olds 1% 1%

15 year-olds 5% 3%

VSA Prevalence

*see slide notes

Individual Substances Offered, Ever: 13 and 15 years old

Extract: from Table 4.16 SALSUS (Scottish Adolescent Lifestyle And Substance Abuse Survey) 2010*

Solvents, glues and gases

2008 2010

13 year-olds 5% 5%

15 year-olds 9% 7%

Poppers2008 2010

13 year-olds 2% 1%

15 year-olds 12% 6%

VSA Prevalence

*see slide notes

ESPAD 2011Lifetime VSA of 15-16 year old students in 36 European Countries. The average across these Countries is 9%.

Highest Prevalence Lowest Prevalence

Croatia 28% United Kingdom 10%

Latvia 23% Ireland 9%Slovenia 20% Cyprus 8%Monaco 15% Lithuania 7%Greece 14% Ukraine 3%Malta 14% Italy 3%Sweden 11% Moldova 2%

2011 ESPAD: The European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs*

VSA Prevalence

*see slide notes

Who tries VSA?

• VSA cuts across all demographics – there is no stereotypical VS user.• Higher risk is associated with history of trauma - just as with any

type of substance misuse.

High rates of 12-16 year-olds reporting ever having used VSs were identified in the following*

• Those excluded from school (48%), • Those who truant from school (41%)• Those with impoverished living conditions/street homeless (43%)• Those with a record of delinquency/criminal behaviour (26% serious

offenders, non offenders 2%)

VSA Prevalence

*see slide notes

What products are used?

Hundreds of products found in supermarkets, newsagents, chemists, the home, DIY outlets,

schools, offices, industrial sites…etc.

VSA Products

*see slide notes

Suggested classroom activities*

ACTIVITY SLIDE

Products abused today*Volatile solvents: • Petrol• Industrial glues• Nail polish remover• Paint stripper• Some correctional fluidAerosols:• Hair spray• Deodorants• Spray paint• Pain relief spray• Air freshener

Gases• Fuel gas• Butane lighter gas • Nitrous oxide (whipped

cream canisters)(whippets)

Nitrites: known as poppers• Video head

cleaners• Room odourisers

VSA Products

*see slide notes

Helium• Helium is an inert gas (not a volatile substance) and causes death by

asphyxiation, displacing bloodstream oxygen. Using a mask or bag, unconsciousness occurs within seconds, potentially permanent brain damage in 2 minutes, then death.

• The St George’s VSA Report has included an early warning on deaths associated with Helium since 2001.

• There were 111 Helium deaths* in the period 2001–2009. 26 deaths in 2008, 46 deaths in 2009, 33 deaths in 2010.

• 93% of deaths were suicides caused by asphyxia, 6% recorded as open verdict and 1% as misadventure.

VSA Products

*see slide notes

The SACKI Logo* Introduced in 1997, the use of the SACKI logo is

voluntary. It does not appear on every product that may be abused.

This may lead young experimental users to identify a product without the logo as ‘safer’ than products bearing the logo.

VSA Products

*see slide notes

VSA supply - legal matters UK1. The Cigarette Lighter Refill (Safety) Regulations 1999

Butane gas cigarette lighter refills may not be supplied or sold to under 18-year-olds. This regulation, part of the Consumer Protection Act, was added due to the large number of deaths associated with gas lighter refills.

2. Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act 1985 (does not include Scotland: see next slide)

This act prohibits the sale or supply to persons under the age of 18 of substances which may cause intoxication if inhaled, if the supplier knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the substance is likely to be inhaled for the purposes of intoxication.

VSA & The Law

The penalties for breaking either law is a maximum fine of £5,000 or up to six months imprisonment, or both.

Legal matters – Scotlandnot just age restriction*

Scottish Common Law Selling/supplying any product to anyone of any age knowing that

the product will be abused for VSA has been held to constitute criminal conduct. Fines of up to £12,000 and prison sentences of 2 years have been imposed.

VSA is sufficient singular cause for referral of a young person to the Children's Panel due to the danger presented during each and every episode of VSA.

VSA & The Law

*see slide notes

Contact detailsScotland: Marina Clayton

Development Manager Scotland07505 000024 scotland@re-solv.org

Re-Solv UK Head Office01785 817885 information@re-solv.org

Questions?

? ? ?

Published August 2013. Review date August 2014.