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Volatile Substance Abuse (VSA)

  • Last modified date:
    17 October 2007

VSA is not a new phenomenon. Public concern about VSA rose in the 1970's and 80's, but since then media attention has turned to deaths from illegal drugs, in particular ecstasy. However VSA still causes more deaths among young people (aged 10-16 in England and Wales) than Class A and other illegal drugs.

FACTS AND FIGURES

  • VSA is when a person knowingly abuses a gas, vapour or solvent with the purpose of 'getting high' or harming themselves.
  • The effects of VSA on the body can be unpredictable, severe and sudden. Sudden failure of the heart is the most common causes of death. 'Sudden sniffing death' is unique to VSA. Note - Heart failure has a rather precise medical meaning - a progressive disorder in which damage to the heart causes weakening of the cardiovascular system clinically manifested by fluid congestion or inadequate blood flow to tissues. VSA causes cardiac arrhythmia - a sudden catastrophic event.
  • The most common method of abuse is spraying the gas directly into the mouth.
  • Since 1992 there has been a significant fall in deaths, from an average of 77 per year in 1993-1998, to an average of 59 per year in 1999-2005.
  • There were 45 deaths associated with volatile substance abuse in 2005, the lowest annual total recorded since data collection methods were stabilised in 1983. The total number of VSA deaths in the UK since 1971 is now 2,198.
  • Gas fuels continue to be associated with the majority of deaths. In 2005, butane from all sources, including aerosol propellants, accounted for 80% of VSA deaths (36 of the 45 deaths).
  • VSA deaths in under-18 year olds have dropped from thirteen in 2004 to eight in 2005. Two of these eight deaths were associated with butane cigarette lighter refills, the sale of which to under-18s is prohibited by legislation.
  • VSA deaths continue to be more common among males than females. In 2005 there were over four times as many male as female deaths overall, but in the under-18 year olds the numbers were equal.
  • As in previous years in the 10-14 age group, there were more deaths in 2005 associated with VSA than with drug misuse.

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