Young Wrexham

Solvents

Petrol, glue, aerosols containing deodorant and hairspray, cleaning fluids and gas lighter refills are among the large number of products used as substances to give a similar effect to alcohol.

They are usually inhaled. Solvents are sniffed from a plastic bag, a sleeve or a cloth and some users put a plastic bag over their head to inhale the fumes of the solvent. Some gases are sprayed directly to the back of the throat.

The effect of inhaling solvents can be to make the user feel dizzy and giggly some solvents can cause the user to hallucinate.

The hit only lasts a short time so the user may repeat the dose to prolong the effect.

Included in the risks are:

• Used over a long period of time solvents can damage the brain, kidneys and liver
• There is a risk of suffocating if you put a plastic bag over your head - Spraying a gas to the back of your throat means that it is difficult to control the dose
• Using solvents can cause you to feel sick, vomit and have blackouts
• There is a serious risk of fatal heart problems and some users have died after their first sniff of a solvent
• Spraying gas straight onto the throat can make your throat swell and this affects your breathing which in turn makes your heart slow down so much that it can be dangerous

Although solvent misuse is not illegal it is illegal for shops in Wales and England to sell a substance if they think you are going to inhale them.

It is illegal to sell gas lighter refills to anyone under the age of 18, any where in the UK.

For information on solvent and volatile substance abuse visit www.re-solv.org.