Sir Gavin Williamson is calling for the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to publish accurate and up to date information on the deaths and serious injuries caused by inhaling gas and solvents.
Sir Gavin, met with Staffordshire based charity Re-Solv to discuss raising awareness of deaths caused by the direct inhalation of dangerous recreational drugs. The inhalation of gas and solvents kills about 40 people in the UK each year.
Re-Solv, founded in 1984, is a national substance misuse charity, which delivers support and prevention work around the issue of gas and solvent use – such as butane cigarette refills, aerosols, some solvents, and nitrus oxide.
Currently, there is no measure of mortality of deaths associated with the inhalation of gases and solvents. The ONS produced a report in 2022, but has since confirmed it will no longer produce current information.
Stephen Ream, Director of Re-Solv, said: “The intentional inhalation of nitrous oxide has caused serious issues with nerve damage and blood clots with many deaths associated with the practice over the last 40 years.
“Here at Re-Solv we work to help people struggling with this form of substance misuse and to make sure professionals have the information and skills they need to help. We also deliver evidence based awareness education to young people and support to parents as well as others who may be worried about someone they love.”
Sir Gavin said: “It is alarming to learn of the number of people affected by the inhalation of gas and solvents. It is very worrying that the ONS has decided that publishing reports into the problem is no longer a priority – we need accurate information in order to understand the scale of this drug use, so Government and medicial professional can put the tools in place to support users and their loved ones.
“Solvent abuse affects the lives of thousands of people and many of the products that contain these substances are legal, accessible, and inexpensive. Therefore, I am pleased to be working with Re-Solv in order to raise awareness of the devastating consequences that can occur when these substances are misused.”
