What is ‘volatile substance misuse’ (VSM)?
VSM is the term used to describe the deliberate inhalation of volatile (toxic) substances for intoxication.
What are volatile substances?
Volatile substances are solvents or other materials which produce a vapour that can be inhaled or sniffed. Many everyday products can be misused as inhalants and sniffed. This is why inhalant misuse can be a difficult problem for communities to tackle.
Common Street names for VSM
Chroming, sniffing, bagging, huffing, spraying, poppers, amyl.
Do people still do that?
Despite media focus on particular groups VSM is really an issue that can affect anyone: VSM crosses all socio-economic and cultural boundaries in terms of its geographic and demographic use.
Regardless, data shows teenagers as the most prevalent group to misuse volatile substances. Misuse is generally confined to those between the ages of 10 and 16 with peak use occurring between the ages of 12 and 14.
Why would anyone do that?
Feelings of loneliness and boredom can lead people to misuse volatile substances. Peer pressure can also be a big factor in people experimenting with VSM. An added attraction is that solvents are cheap, easy to use and relatively easily available.
Misusing volatile substances
Volatile substances are consumed either through the nose or mouth by three main methods:
There is no safe level of volatile substance use. With all volatile substances, intoxication only lasts for a short time, often resulting in repetition of the exposure to maintain the effect. Even first time volatile substance misuse can result in death through Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome.
How do they obtain the volatile substances?
The AIHW 2007 National Drug Strategy Household Survey showed that 41.0% of people misusing volatile substances usually bought the substance from a shop while 34.0% obtained the substance from a friend or acquaintance.
Short term effects of VSM
Long term effects of VSM
Signs of volatile substance misuse
The law and VSM in the Northern Territory?
The Northern Territory (NT) Government has passed legislation to help people who endanger their lives through VSM. Under Section 52 of the NT Volatile Substance Abuse Prevention Act 2005:
(a) to inhale the volatile substance; or
(b) to supply the volatile substance to a third person for inhalation by the third person or any other person.
Under the Act people who are misusing volatile substances can also be forced to attend treatment for their condition.
What about withdrawal?
It is possible to become both physically and psychologically dependent on sniffing. In addition to this, many people misusing a volatile substance develop tolerance to the substance. This means it requires more of the substance to achieve the same high.
This means stopping can be difficult and can lead to symptoms like anxiety, depression, loss of appetite, irritation, aggression, dizziness, tremors and nausea. Seek help from a doctor or nurse if coming off sniffing.
What to do in an emergency
If you find someone who is under the influence of a volatile substance and they are experiencing difficulty:
If you are sniffing, or you know someone who is sniffing, and you are not sure what to do, speak to a doctor, clinic nurse, health worker or contact your local alcohol and drug agency.
Under the NT Volatile Substance Abuse Prevention Act 2005 the police also have the power to assist by:
Contact
Further information on volatile substance misuse can be obtained from Amity Community Services on 8944 6565 or at www.amity.org.au