Solvent & Gas Use Headlines - March 2022

 UK

716 people have died sniffing lighter fuel, glue or laughing gas Hundreds of people have died after using solvents and fuels including so-called “laughing gas” over the last two decades. Volatile substance abuse is defined as the “deliberate inhalation of volatile compounds to produce psychoactive effects”.

Drivers high on laughing gas are bringing new danger to West Yorkshire's roads, meeting hears Dangerous driving and issues of drivers under the influence of drugs are a growing problem, councillors heard.

Man hit partner during alcohol and laughing gas binge A man left his partner bloodied during a booze and laughing gas binge.

Man fined after he was caught on CCTV dumping dozens of nitrous oxide cannisters It was no laughing matter for one fly tipper caught on film dumping dozens of nitrous oxide cannisters. Mohammad Waqas Ali has been left nearly £700 out of pocket by magistrates.

USA

Springdale woman convicted of manslaughter for crash while huffing and driving A Springdale woman was convicted Thursday of crashing her car into a backyard and house, killing a resident and injuring a toddler almost two years ago.

Man allegedly caught inhaling aerosol twice in less than two hours. Norfolk police arrested a man Monday afternoon following the second of two contacts with him on the same day outside a south Norfolk business.

Martin County woman charged with DUI after huffing deodorant A 31-year old Martin County woman is being charged with DUI after deputies discovered a mound of empty Right Guard deodorant cans in her car.

Solvent & Gas Use Headlines - February 2022

The Office for National Statistics has updated the VSA mortality report.

Deaths related to volatile substances, helium and nitrogen in England and Wales: 2001 to 2020 registrations Between 2001 and 2020, there were 716 deaths related to volatile substances registered in England and Wales, with an average of 36 deaths each year.

 UK

Scots cop cleared of using excessive force on teen mum who died after car chase arrest A Fatal Accident Inquiry has ruled that Shania Collins, 19, may not have died if she had not inhaled Butane gas while she was a passenger in a car being pursued by police on December 22, 2020.

Driver and passenger caught inhaling nitrous oxide in car in Wisbech The Wisbech Neighbourhood Policing Team said they stopped a vehicle after a report that the driver and their passenger were inhaling nitrous oxide in the vehicle.

Belgium

No laughing matter: sale of nitrous oxide banned to minors The sale of nitrous oxide to minors is officially banned as of this week in Belgium, with police warning that its illicit distribution and use as a party drug will be prosecuted.

Solvent & Gas Use Headlines - January 2022

UK

Teenager, 17, died after 'tragic accident' on West Norfolk road, inquest told A forensic collision investigation report by PC Graeme Brookes concluded that his inexperience, the effects of the gas and excessive speed for the corner were likely to have contributed to the crash.

The cowardly Sheffield wannabe gangster who ran away to Skegness Dunford, 27, was sentenced for running over and killing Naomi Colcomb, 28, while he was high on nitrous oxide in 2018

'Gas-huffing' kids playing 'Russian roulette' with their lives According to national solvent abuse charity Re-Solv, butane is the “most dangerous” solvent used for inhalation and associated with half of all solvent abuse deaths.

Kids buy industrial-sized laughing gas containers big enough to fill 70 balloons 
The laughing gas epidemic is now so rampant that kids are buying it in industrial-sized containers.

Powys man threatened neighbour with hammer A MAN threatened his neighbour with a hammer after drinking alcohol and inhaling butane.

Ireland

Woman caught sniffing gas canisters at Cork filling station on Christmas Day Accused was charged with being intoxicated to such an extent that she was a danger to herself or others

New Zealand

Three women found severely hurt in car wreck near Twello Police found a nitrous oxide tank and several balloons in the car.