Specialist
agencies, Re-Solv and Solve It, have partnered to launch Community for Recovery
(communityforrecovery.org), a national support service for those affected
by volatile substance abuse (‘VSA’), the misuse of gases, aerosols and solvents.
It’s probably the
most hidden form of drug abuse in the UK, but ‘volatile solvent abuse’ (‘VSA’ for
short) is killing more people a year than any of the new psychoactive
substances known as ‘legal highs’.
VSA
is the inhalation of gases, aerosols and solvents – often from everyday
products found in all our homes. Over
50,000 people in the UK misuse volatile substances but, until now, there
has been little or no support available for them, or for their families. Often
inhaling up to 10 or more gas cans a day, those chronically addicted need the
same level of support that illicit drug-users receive – not least because VSA can kill instantly. On average, 54 people in the UK die each
year from misusing butane gas or other volatile substances such as nitrous
oxide (‘laughing gas’).
Despite
being the original ‘legal high’, VSA is rarely talked about. As a result, those
affected by VSA often feel helpless and alone. Community for Recovery is about overcoming
this isolation and providing professional and peer support into recovery.
Communityforrecovery.org
is a web-hub that provides direct access to professional advice, online
counselling and peer support, without stigma, for VS-users and their families
and friends. Through web content, instant messaging, email and discussion
forums, visitors can access information, support and referral into local
treatment and recovery services.
In
order to ensure that local substance misuse providers have the skills and
confidence to support someone misusing volatile substances, Community for
Recovery is also funded to deliver free professional VSA training to support
and treatment services anywhere in England.
Community
for Recovery is funded by a major grant from the Department of Health
Innovation, Excellence and Strategic Development (IESD) Fund and is a partnership
project between Re-Solv and Solve It, two UK charities that work to prevent
volatile substance abuse and support those whose lives are affected by it.
ENDS
For
more information please contact Re-Solv’s Director, Stephen Ream, on 01785
817885 or visit www.communityforrecovery.org.
Notes to editors
Re-Solv
(www.re-solv.org, @resolvUK) is the national agency working to prevent volatile
substance abuse (‘VSA’) in the UK and Secretariat to the All Party
Parliamentary Group on VSA.
Solve
It (www.solveitonline.co.uk, @SolveItVSA) provides a unique holistic and
specialist service tackling all issues in relation to VSA and is the only UK
agency to provide VSA online counselling.
Volatile
substance abuse (‘VSA’) is the misuse of consumer products found in all our
homes and high streets. A range of chemicals are described as ‘volatile
substances’ because they readily evaporate at room temperature, giving off a
‘sniffable’ vapour. Volatile substance abuse or ‘VSA’ is when these substances
are deliberately inhaled through the mouth and/or nose to achieve a change in
mental state or ‘high’. The most commonly misused products are butane gas from
cigarette lighter refills, aerosols (such as deodorants and hair sprays),
petrol and some glues. When inhaled deliberately, volatile substances can kill
suddenly and unpredictably; there is no way to avoid this risk.
Nitrous
oxide (‘hippy crack’ or ‘laughing gas’), another volatile substance, is now the
second most popular drug among 16-24 year olds in England.
