statistics

Latest Statistics about Volatile Substance Abuse

Key extracts from the latest annual report on solvent and VSA mortalities published by the Department of Social Sciences, St George’s Hospital Medical School. (Report No 21). The figures relate to the year 2006, the last year for which complete figures are currently available. The report is regarded as the UK’s definitive work on trends and mortalities associated with VSA.

• 49 deaths
  • There were a total of 49 deaths from volatile substance abuse (VSA) in 2006
• Yorkshire and Humberside
  • Yorkshire and Humberside has the 4th highest mortality rate in England.
• Disposable cigarette lighters implicated
  • In 2001, for the first time, there was strong evidence of disposable cigarette lighters being implicated in VSA deaths.
• More common among males
  • VSA deaths continue to be much more common among males than females. In the last 10 years, 73% of cases have been male. However studies show that the practice of VSA is nearly equal between sexes.
• One person per week
  • On average one person per week is dying of VSA.
• Butane lighter fuel
  • Butane lighter fuel was associated with 78% of all substances fatally abused.
• Under 18s
  • From 1971 – 2006 just under half of all VSA deaths were in the under 18 age group.
• Most common place for fatal abuse
  • For adults the home was by far the most common place of fatal abuse but for those under 18 years old, the fatal abuse was almost as likely to have been in a public place.
• Deaths from VSA in 2006
  • 13 of the 49 deaths from VSA in 2006 were young people aged under 25. Five deaths occured in the under 18 age group.
• 11% of 11 - 15 year olds
  • 11% of 11 – 15 year olds tried solvents in the last year (*Department of Health survey amongst secondary schools children).
• Youngest to die
  • The youngest person to die from VSA was age 7.
• Deaths from first abuse
  • For 41% of deaths, there was no evidence of having previously indulged in VSA. There is strong evidence that death may have occurred on the first occasion of abuse.
• CFCs no longer used
  • Since there has been a movement away from CFCs as a propellant in accordance with the Montreal Protocol, some products have stopped being abused as a volatile substance. These include pain relief sprays, text correction fluid and fire extinguishers.
• VSA young people deaths compared to drugs
  • VSA killed three times more young people (under the age of 20) than any other illegal drug between 1984-1994 (Home Office Statistics).