SOLVENTS

 
Names

• Glue
• Gas
• Aerosols
• Lighter Fuel
• Petrol

Description

• Everyday aerosol cans containing the likes of hairspray and deodorant, lighter gas, petrol tins and tubes of glue and some paints and typewriter correction fluids

Use

• Fumes are sniffed or breathed into the mouth or nose
• It is illegal for a shop keeper to sell them to under 18's if they suspect they may be misused
• They are mainly used amongst the younger age range but they go in and out of fashion

Effects

• Users feel drunk, laughing and talking a lot, and do things that they would usually be too scared to do
• Some users feel dreamy and have visions, others feel sick and drowsy
• The effects come on fast but rarely last longer than 45 minutes

Risks

• Sniffing by putting a large plastic bag over the users head may lead to suffocation

• Accidents are more likely when people are high on solvents because they lose control of their balance
• Use of solvents can cause instant death no matter how experienced or inexperienced the user is
• Solvents catch fire easily, so burns and fire are a risk especially with smokers

Law

• It is not illegal to use solvents
• It is illegal in the UK for a shop to sell solvents to young people under 18 years if they are knowingly to be used for getting high