Solvents are substances that are inhaled to get high. They include glue, lighter fuel, petrol and aerosols.
The product used is often determined by availability. It is estimated that the average home contains over thirty sniffable products.

WHAT ARE SOLVENTS?

Solvents are substances that are inhaled to get (high).
They include glue, lighter fuel, petrol and aerosols.
The average home contains over 30 sniffable products.

WHO USES SOLVENTS AND WHY?

People use drugs for a huge variety of reasons.
Using solvents is not necessarily evidence of a problem.
Studies how that even the most well adjusted young people experiment with drugs.
Between 6% and 9% of school age children have tried solvents.
Users of solvents can be categorized in three ways:

Experimental users - the majority of people try sniffing once or twice and then stop.

Regular users - some young people go through a phase, sniffing regularly for a period of months, then stopping. Habitual or long - term uses - a proportion of young people move from regular to long term use.
If young people have serious problems in their life, sniffing solvents may seem like a way of coping with them. This group may require professional help.


WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF SOLVENTS?

For some reason, the effects of solvents are similar to alcohol. · Users feel drowsy and unsteady on their feet.
For others, solvents can produce visions and hallucinations.
Inhalation causes the drug to take effect very rapidly, causing a euphoric (rush)
The effects wear off rapidly, so uses often sniff repeatedly.


WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH SOLVENTS?

Over 100 young people a year die after using solvents.

· Sniffing can have an effect on the heart - physical exertion or fright can cause heart failure. · If aerosols are sprayed directly into the mouth, they can freeze the throat, causing suffocation. · Some produces contain more dangerous chemicals. · If plastic bags are used to sniff, users run the risk of suffocation. · Intoxication can lead people to do dangerous things. · If solvent users sniff in out of the way places, they may not be found if problems do arise.