Vol. 398 No. 1
34 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who died as a result of solvent abuse during 1989; the average age of those who died; if he has any plans for a new education campaign to warn young people of the dangers of solvent abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
In relation to solvent abuse the annual report on vital statistics classifies deaths under the following headings:
International Classifications of Diseases (ICD) Codes 981 and 982, referring to the toxic effects of petroleum products and non-petroleum based solvents respectively, and ICD Code 304 which relates to deaths due to drug dependence which includes glue sniffing.
The most recent Report on Vital Statistics, 1986, records six deaths in these categories.
In relation to the age profile of the six deaths notified one was in the age group ten-14, two were aged 20-24, a further two were between 25-35 and one in the 45-49 age group.
The likelihood is that official figures underestimate the numbers of deaths where the underlying cause is solvent abuse, since such deaths may be classified under differenct headings, e.g. cardiac arrests or respiratory causes.
A huge variety of consumer products contain solvents. As it would be unrealistic to completely ban the sale of these products to children, a provision is included in the Child Care Bill, 1988, to make it an offence for persons to sell or make available solvent-based products to children where it is known or suspected that they are likely to be abused. It is proposed that persons found guilty of this offence would be liable to a fine of up to £1,000 or to 12 months imprisonment or both. These are very stiff penalties and they underline the seriousness with which the Government view this kind of activity.
Legislation, of itself, is not the complete answer to this problem. The creation of greater awareness of the dangers of solvent abuse, among children, among parents, among those who work with children and among traders is also important.
