UK Glue Sniffing Deaths Rise As Cannabis Stays Banned

New statistics on solvent abuse related fatalities in the UK show that deaths have almost doubled, the Big Issue revealed this week.

63 people died in 2001 as a result of inhaling butane gas (lighter fuel), deodorant and glue, a significantly higher figure than deaths related to ecstasy. According to scientists, users are even tampering with disposable lighters to get a fix, highlighting the difficulty of controlling access to dangerous solvents.

The findings came just a year after a report by the respected National Inhalant Prevention Council linked solvent abuse to zero tolerance drug policies, singling out Sweden, in particular.

"In Europe, inhalant abuse is particularly problematic in Sweden, the only European country that maintains a U.S.-style zero tolerance approach to drugs," a report on Drugpolicy.org revealed.

"Sweden is also the only European Country that has higher prevalence rates of glue sniffing among 16 year olds than marijuana."
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