Public Health England have published the latest NDTMS data for Substance misuse treatment for adults: statistics 2019 to 2020. This reports that 309 adults are currently in treatment services for "solvent" use. The figure in 2018-19 was 314.
The ESPAD Report 2019 — Results from the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs was also published this month. Headline data relating to VSA was as follows (p15):-
"Lifetime use of inhalants was reported by 7.2 % of the students, with large differences between countries. The countries with the highest proportions of students who had tried inhalants were Latvia (16 %), Germany and Croatia (15 % each). The lowest rate was found in Kosovo (0.5 %). No gender differences were observed. The trend in the use of inhalants shows a steady increase until 2011, with a decrease observed thereafter. The gender-specific curves from 1995 to 2019 reveal a progressive narrowing of the gender gap, which has disappeared since 2011."
The UK did not contribute data to this latest report.
Other headlines this month include:
UK
Inquest into death of Stonesfield painter in 'sexual experiment gone wrong': An inquest into the 64-year-old’s death took place at Oxford Coroners’ Court, where the cause was given as asphyxia associated with inhalation of butane gas.
'Paranoid' man subjected his girlfriend to prolonged attack at their home in Leeds after inhaling butane gas: A man subjected his partner to a prolonged violent attack at their home in Leeds during a paranoid state after becoming addicted to inhaling butane gas.
Leicester man who filmed himself raping girl jailed: Meeting later in a park, he bought alcohol and nitrous oxide for the girl and a friend and took them back to his flat.
Butane gas causes maisonette fire in Tottenham: Fire crews battled for more than an hour to subdue a maisonette fire caused by 'misused' butane gas in Tottenham.
Drug dealer ran 'Party Supplies' enterprise selling nitrous oxide across Newcastle: [He] was caught with MDMA and police intercepted a delivery of 6,000 canisters of laughing gas to his property.
Stash of laughing gas, cash, balloons and a knife seized: Two men have been arrested after police stopped a car in Radcliffe Road, Southampton.
Suspected drug dealer quizzed after dramatic raid at Grays home: Officers searched the home in Grays and seized class A and B drugs, and nitrous oxide cannisters.
Police update after laughing gas canisters seized in Prescot: A man who was arrested by police after officers seized 384 laughing gas canisters from a vehicle in Prescot has been released under investigation.
Thousands of illegal cigarettes and 'laughing gas' canisters seized in Bolton raids: In one visit to a shop in Breightmet, more than 4,500 “laughing gas” canisters were found.
Nitrous oxide cannisters found by police in Gillingham after car stopped in Lower Rainham Road: Officers searched the vehicle and discovered 2,000 nitrous oxide cannisters, a knife and drugs paraphernalia.
Halifax Attacks – Students Found Themselves Under Siege: A graphic video filmed from Wood Court showed t[a group of young men] attempting to break down one flat’s door on Friday, having allegedly set their fire alarm off and attempted to force entry after asking for the drug nitrous oxide, commonly known as “balloons”.
More campaigns in the works around the dangers of laughing gas: St Helens Borough Council will continue its efforts to tackle the use of laughing gas, with future campaigns targeted at over 18s.
Other stories relating to nitrous oxide were reported in Lancashire, Leicestershire, South Essex, Worcester, and Wrexham.
USA
Fugitive who blames glue sniffing for sex crimes gets prison time (NY): [He] pleaded guilty in Schenectady County court to one count of first-degree sexual conduct against a child, blamed mental health issues and sniffing glue for his behavior during sentencing.
Mother to share personal story about son's hazing death in TED talk tonight: [Her son] died after ingesting nitrous oxide in a fraternity hazing case. See the talk here.
Owners of businesses tied to DTLA explosion strike plea deals (CA): In a report released earlier this year, the Fire Department determined the “excessive quantity” of nitrous oxide and butane containers inside Smoke Tokes fueled the fire.
OVI suspect huffs aerosol can in front of officers (OH): Officers recovered four aerosol cans from the passenger compartment. They arrested the man for operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
Casper man arrested after huffing spray paint, ‘dancing’ in strangers’ yard (WY): According to the affidavit, [he] showed several signs of being severely intoxicated including fidgety behavior, incoherent speech and thoughts, an inability to stand without falling and falling asleep while standing.
Whippets, whip-its, or laughing gas: The drug UT students are inhaling (FL): “When I take whippets, it feels like a headrush,” said David, a 21-year-old UT senior who requested to remain anonymous under the name David. “Feels like the world stops in that moment.”
KENYA
The baby stealers: Somewhere, Rebecca's son is 10. He could be in Nairobi, where she lives, or he could be somewhere else. He could, she knows in her heart, be dead. The last time she saw him, Lawrence Josiah, her firstborn son, he was one. She was 16. It was about 2am one night in March 2011 and Rebecca was drowsy from sniffing a handkerchief doused in jet fuel — a cheap high on the city's streets. She sniffed jet fuel because it gave her the confidence to go up to strangers and beg.
TAIWAN
Nitrous oxide added to controlled substances list: Stink tactics: To deter recreational use of laughing gas, the government would require producers to add sulfur dioxide to orders for some clients, the EPA said.
FIJI
COVID-19: A woman aged 19 with two girls aged 17 and 14 years were found sniffing glues during curfew hours.
3 men and 2 juveniles allegedly found sniffing glue during curfew hours: Police have arrested three men in their 20s and two juveniles who were allegedly found sniffing glue in a parked bus.
AUSTRALIA
BP pledge to deliver no-sniff petrol: BP has pledged to secure a supply of non-sniffable petrol in vulnerable remote communities despite plans to close the refinery responsible for producing the fuel.
High noon for 'nangs' as Labor moves to regulate sale in WA: The sale of nitrous oxide in small silver bulbs – often misused as a party drug and commonly referred to as "nangs" – could soon be regulated in WA.
