Deaths from abuse of volatile substances: a national epidemiological study.
A survey of the United Kingdom detected 282 deaths from abuse of volatile substances during 1971-83. Deaths appeared to have increased in the most recent years, reaching 80 in 1983. Age at death ranged from 11 to 76 years but most deaths (72%) occurred under 20 years. Ninety five per cent of the subjects were male, and in 1983 deaths from volatile substance abuse accounted for 2% of all deaths in males aged 10-19. All areas of the United Kingdom were affected, the rates being highest in Scotland and urban areas. All social classes were affected, though rates were highest in social class V and the armed forces. The volatile substances abused were gas fuels (24%), mainly butane; aerosol sprays (17%); solvents in glues (27%); and other volatile substances, such as cleaning agents (31%). In 51% of cases death was attributed to the direct toxic effects of the substance abused, in 21% to plastic bag asphyxia, in 18% to inhalation of stomach contents, and in 11% to trauma. Deaths associated with the abuse of glues were more likely to be traumatic, but all substances appeared capable of killing directly by their toxic effects, probably by a cardiac mechanism. Only a small proportion of deaths (6%) were due to the abuse of glues among children under 16; hence current attempts to limit access of children to glues will probably have little impact on overall mortality.
D000269:Adhesives; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002073:Butanes; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012923:Social Class; D012997:Solvents; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000401:mortality*; D006113:United Kingdom
D000269:Adhesives; D000336:Aerosols; D002073:Butanes; D012997:Solvents