Volatile substance abuse (VSA) - solvents / gases
Nicknames:
sniffing, snorting, bagging, huffing, biffing, doing gas, glue sniffing, solvent abuse, solvent misuse, etc.
What it is:
Solvents and gases abused by users are mainly everyday household products - lighter fuel, petrol, nail varnish, corrector fluids, deodorant, hairspray, paint thinners & removers, to name but a few.
How it is used:
Users inhale the vapours of the solvent into their lungs, sometimes directly, sometimes through a soaked rag, or sometimes from a plastic or paper bag placed over the mouth.
The highs:
Produces a similar affect to drinking alcohol. Users feel light-headed, disorientated, dizzy, giggly and dreamy. Occasionally users experience distortions in sight and hearing, and in some cases they hallucinate. Effects last approximately 15 - 30 minutes. After inhaling solvents, users may feel drowsy and suffer a "hangover" effect.
The lows:
SNIFFING VOLATILE SUBSTANCES KILLS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO DO IT! Sniffing solvents and gases accounts for 1 in 50 deaths of young people between the ages of 15 and 19. Many (up to 40%) of those who die from sniffing solvents were doing so for the first time. Others who die from sniffing solvents may have been doing so for some time. Overall, volatile substance abuse accounts for approximately ten times more deaths than those caused by ecstasy.
FATAL: Sniffing some solvents, such as aerosols, can lead to heart failure (particularly if the user takes part in any sudden exertion, such as running around). Lighter fuel squirted directly from the can into the mouth can cause the windpipe to freeze and cause suffocation. Accidental death or injury can occur if sniffing in an unsafe environment (e.g. on a river bank or near a busy road). If users sniff to the extent that they go unconscious, they risk choking on their own vomit. Some users accidentally suffocate from sniffing with a plastic bag over their head.
Other side effects of abusing solvents or gases include nausea, vomiting, black outs, tiredness, forgetfulness, lack of concentration, weight loss, and depression. Some users develop psychological dependence.
The law:
Solvents are everyday household items, so it is not illegal to possess them. However, it is illegal for a shopkeeper to sell gas lighter refills to anyone under the age of 18, and it is it is an offence for a shopkeeper to sell any volatile substance to somebody under the age of 18 if they believe it will be used for inhaling.
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