Tony Gregory
Ceist:113 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the number of deaths in the State caused by aerosol abuse; and if he will outline his plans to deal with this problem.
Written Answers. - Aerosol Abuse Fatalities.
The annual report on vital statistics classifies deaths under the following headings:
International Classification 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 dependance which includes glue sniffing.
The most recent report on vital statistics, 1988, records seven deaths in these categories. While no separate classification is available for deaths from aerosol abuse such deaths are included in the above classifications.
The likelihood is that official figures underestimate the number of deaths where the underlying cause is solvent abuse, since such deaths may be classified under different headings, e.g. cardiac arrests or respiratory causes.
Section 74 of the Child Care Act 1991 makes it an offence for any person to sell, offer, or make available any substance to persons under 18 which they know or have reasonable cause to believe is likely to be inhaled for the purpose of causing intoxication. The penalty for this offence is a fine up to £1,000 or 12 months imprisonment, or both.
The health promotion unit of my Department conducted an awareness campaign for parents, professionals and retailers pointing out the dangers associated with the misuse of many common products containing solvents. It would be impossible to completely ban the sale of such products to young people. However the campaign served to heighten the awareness of adults especially in retail outlets to the types of products abused so that they would keep a closer watch on the buyers of potentially abusable products. An educational booklet on solvent abuse is available from the health promotion unit and is disseminated throughout the country through health boards, schools and other outlets and made available directly to members of the public on request. Videos on the subject are also available free of charge from the unit.
In conjunction with the National Youth Council of Ireland the health promotion unit conducted a seminar on solvent abuse in March 1991. Invited youth leaders and health professionals working with young people examined the extent of the solvent abuse problem in Ireland. In accordance with the recommendations of this seminar resource materials are being developed which will assist those who work with young people to equip these young people with the skills necessary to avoid the abuse of solvents.
Another programme for use in second level schoolsThe Substance Abuse Prevention Programme has been jointly developed by the health promotion unit and the psychological service of the Department of Education. This programme which involves whole school staffs and will be incorporated into a broad health education programme is being piloted in selected schools during the 1991-92 academic year. It includes training for young people in such areas as assertiveness, self-esteem and decision making skills and when successfully piloted and evaluated it will become available to all second level schools.
It is primarily by programmes such as the school based programme and the one being prepared for use by youth leaders and professionals who work with young people, together with vigilance on the part of retailers and most especially parents that this problem will be successfully addressed.