VSA Headlines - December 2018

PHE and the Department of Health have published the latest treatment statistics for both young people and adults.

Between April 2017 and March 2018, 322 adults and 387 young people (median age 15) were in treatment services for VSA. 6% of under-13s in treatment services are using solvents.

Other headlines this month include:-

UK

Laughing gas laws not working, says ex-chief crown prosecutor: The law governing the sale of nitrous oxide, widely known as laughing gas, is simply not working, a former senior prosecutor has said. Watch the video 'Shops filmed selling 'laughing gas' here.

Laughing gas plot: Arrests in Rutland and Yorkshire: Eight people have been arrested on suspicion of importing up to £6m of nitrous oxide for illegal human use.

Gunners stars caught in 'laughing gas' storm: According to reports, several Arsenal players have been embroiled in a 'laughing gas' storm on Thursday night after it was reported they had inhaled nitrous oxide at a pre-season party.

Discarded 'laughing gas' canisters discovered at Ford Park, Ulverston: The discovery of empty 'hippy crack' canisters has led to warnings about the potential dangers of using the legal high.

Laughing gas cylinders found in Cotford St Luke play area: Children and young people are putting themselves at risk of harm inhaling a gas supposed to be used in medicine and catering.

USA

Casper man adits to battery, huffing, meth-related charges (WY): A man who was arrested for allegedly hitting a child after huffing air duster over the summer appeared in Natrona County District Court on Wednesday and entered guilty pleas to four criminal charges.

Billings man charged for ‘huffing’ prior to October crash that killed construction worker (MT): A 28-year-old Billings man has been charged in the death of a Montana Department of Transportation road worker after an Oct. 24 collision where the victim was struck and killed by a flatbed pickup.

Alleged drug-huffing driver charged following Saugus crash (MA): A man alleged to have huffed drugs was arrested on numerous charges after crashing a vehicle at Cogliano’s Plaza.

Pair caught 'huffing duster' in abandoned Pittston home (PA): Police arrested two men after they allegedly broke into an abandoned home and got high on canned inhalants Saturday afternoon.

Other VSA-associated incidents were reported in OH and across the US but unfortunately we can't provide links as many US reports are now inaccessible due to GDPR legislation.

CANADA

Angel's story a troubling look at a troubled Child and Family Services: Drug and solvent abuse began by age nine.

AUSTRALIA

The Conversation: Explainer - what is nitrous oxide (or nangs) and how dangerous is it? Media reports last week linked the use of “nangs” to the death of a teenager at schoolies week on the Gold Coast. [He] died when he fell from a balcony. He and his friends had reportedly been using “nangs” that day.

Youth advocates call for better regulation of nitrous oxide canisters known as 'nangs': In schoolies hubs such as Byron Bay and the Gold Coast, the canisters can be found littered along the foreshore — the refuse of a night "on the nangs".

'Nangs' at your door in 30 minutes: How buying laughing gas has become as easy as having dinner delivered.

Fears of a petrol sniffing resurgence in some remote communities: Rates of petrol sniffing have dropped significantly since the introduction of Opal Fuel, but some support service providers say the dangerous practice is slowly returning.

NEW ZEALAND

Two teens injured, one critically, after a chemical huffing explosion: Two teenagers have been injured, one critically, after a chemical huffing explosion at an South Auckland apartment block this morning.

NAMIBIA

Sniffing petrol for breakfast: The Namibian follows the lives of two street children as they speak of their addiction to petrol and other harmful substances.