| The Kettering based charity SOLVE IT, that specialises in
advice and education on issues involving the abuse of volatile
substance abuse, has warned that there is still much work to
do - despite the slight fall in numbers of people dying from
glue sniffing.
The latest annual report from St. Georges' Hospital Medical
school in London indicates a fall from 65 deaths in 1999 to
63 in 200l as a direct result of abusing solvent and volatile
substances.
But Steve Lambert, SOLVE IT's head of marketing and fund
raising, said there was no room for complacency and pointed
out that more up to date figures might not be so upbeat.
Any decrease in the number of deaths is to be welcomed, however
we should not be too complacent, we are working on figures
that are two years behind and unfortunately the indications
are that more up to date figures will show a more depressing
picture, said Mr Lambert.
Even the latest figures show that we are still losing over
five of our young people a month to this form of abuse, and
that's more than by heroin cocaine and ecstasy put together.
"The report shows that most of the deaths occurred in
the 15 to 19 age range, but there is still a worrying trend
of deaths in the older 30-plus age group.
"Because many of the products open to abuse are widely
available and are not illegal to possess, young people believe
they are safe to abuse. But these figures prove the opposite.
We at SOLVE IT seek to educate young people to the dangers
and the consequences of sniffing, and raise awareness among
adults.
But Government have their role to play as well, and they
need to acknowledge the true scale of the problem and resource
the proper preventative measures, if we are to see any meaningfull
fall in future figures"
For further information, call Steve Lambert, head of marketing
and fund raising, SOLVE IT, on 01536 510010.
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