Epidemiology of Inhalant Abuse - Archives - National Institute on ...

With the United Kingdom population <strong>of</strong> about 5.0 million youngsters
aged between 12 and 19, there may be as many as 590,000 who could
have experimented with volatile substances, and up to 59,000 could be
regular users (Gossop 1993).
VSA IN UNITED KINGDOM INDUSTRY
The Health and Safety Executive data on workplace exposure show that
industry generally controls solvent exposure <strong>of</strong> workers quite well. High
personal exposures are not widespread and tend to occur in a fairly small
number <strong>of</strong> cases involving “end user” processes (e.g., mixing or spraying)
and usually involve mixtures <strong>of</strong> solvents rather than single substances.
The degree to which VSA is a contributory factor in exposure is
uncertain, but there probably is greater opportunity for abuse to occur in
these same end user processes. It is acknowledged that there is evidence
for the occurrence <strong>of</strong> VSA in industry, but the extent <strong>of</strong> the practice is
not known. The Control <strong>of</strong> Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations
1988 put great emphasis on the assessment <strong>of</strong> risks from the industrial use
<strong>of</strong> chemicals. This includes assessment <strong>of</strong> the potential for abuse,
together with appropriate training and supervision in the proper use <strong>of</strong>
chemicals (Parker 1989). In the United States, Suruda and McGlothlin
(1990) reported 11 workplace deaths from nitrous oxide abuse, six <strong>of</strong>
which were restaurants using nitrous oxide to whip cream; the remainder
were hospital or dental workers.
LEGISLATION
Legislation to limit the sale <strong>of</strong> diethyl ether was introduced in Ireland at
the turn <strong>of</strong> the century by a Government under pressure from the
temperance societies and faced with the loss <strong>of</strong> tax revenues from alcohol
(Nagle 1968). In England and Wales various acts, statutes, and bylaws
have been used—some dating from the mid-19th century to address
problems caused by intoxicated youngsters (Gossop 1993). These
include:
Ecclesiastical Courts Jurisdiction Act 1860
Offences Against the Person Act 1861
Town and Gardens Protection Act 1863
235