§ Mr. Harry Greenway (Ealing, North)I beg to move,
That leave be given to bring in a Bill to require manufacturers of glues for sale to the public to include in them an agent which will render them repellent.I seek to persuade Parliament to take this first small step to attempt to reduce the number of solvent abusers. Glues are not the only substances that are abused but they are the most commonly used products. I have chosen this course of action rather than any of the alternatives because I consider this to be the most effective and practical way forward.It seems that glue is regarded as safe to sniff and as causing no lasting damage to the health of the sniffer. That is in contrast with other products that have been seen to cause instant death — for example, aerosols that are squirted directly into the mouth.
Those who treat glue sniffers say that glue is not safe to sniff and that it may well cause long-term injury and even death. However, the attitude to glue among sniffers, and the fact that it is the product used most commonly by them, has persuaded me that we must make glues repellent if we are to make a start in this important area. Alternative courses of action would be no solution to the increasing scale of solvent abuse. To make glue sniffing a criminal offence would lead to enforcement difficulties and would drive more sniffers to secrecy and, thereby, death.
Those who commit offences while high on glue can already be prosecuted under existing legislation. Those who are addicted to glue need as much help as alcoholics or hard drug addicts if they are to kick the habit. They sniff glue to reach a high that is not unlike that received by drinking too much alcohol or taking drugs. I have received several petitions containing many hundreds of signatures, and many letters from head teachers, teachers, parents and youth leaders on this problem. Between 1971 and 1981 there were 169 deaths associated with solvent abuse. In 1981 there were 45, and in 1983 there were 57. I feel sure that these figures give us no more than a minute insight into the scale of the problem.
Some researchers into the numbers who so abuse solvents have produced estimates that show as many as 10 per cent. of the population in any one school may be abusers. That does not apply to all schools but perhaps it applies to the average school. A study by Dr. Gay and his colleagues was reported to a symposium at Guy's hospital in November 1981 that was set up by the National Poisons Information Service. Dr. Gay and his colleagues received reports of 413 known instances of solvent abuse involving 304 young people from a large urban area in the county of Avon during a six-months period. That means that many young lives are to be spoilt and much pain to be caused to many caring families.
The catalogue of causes of death shows how horrific is the problem of solvent abuse. For example, it contains instances of death by asphyxia, by suffocation following the use of plastic bags, by inhalation of vomit, by hanging, by drowning and from multiple injuries. The National Campaign against Solvent Abuse has estimated that 25 per cent. of deaths are caused by the direct effects of these poisonous chemicals upon the liver, kidneys, heart, lungs and brain. Only 10 per cent. of the deaths enumerated are caused by accidents when youngsters are high.
363 Individual cases have been reported to me of people being left with no minds as a result of solvent abuse. They emerge from prison, for example, having committed offences while under the influence of the vapour which they have inhaled. They are wholly unimproved on leaving prison because their minds have been extinguished by the abuse of solvents. It is extremely serious.
The practice is no respecter of age. Children as young as five years are known solvent abusers, and the majority of abusers are between 14 and 18 years. Older people have been known to abuse solvents, and a man of 31 years recently lost his life because of it. The habit attracts three times as many boys as girls. A youth worker, whom I know well, recalled to me recently the case of a boy whom he is sure is psychologically addicted to solvents. When living in a children's home the boy would steal glue to sniff and the staff had to remove and hide bread wrappers before Jimmy, as I shall call him, could get his hands on them to use as receptacles for the glue that he wanted to sniff. In spite of a bad cough, chest pains, halucinations and a stay in secure accommodation without access to glue, he is now back on glue and extremely ill. He is a young fellow.
I have received various comments on my proposals from the manufacturers of glue. It is evident that little research has been done on possible additives. Certain criteria would need to be met by any additive to repel sniffers. First, if the smell is offensive to the sniffer it must be acceptable to normal users, including those who work in industry who use large or small quantities of glue daily. Secondly, there must be no long-term health hazard to users. Thirdly, it must not cause the sniffer to vomit. As I have already said, inhalation of vomit after sniffing can cause death and is doing so on a wide scale. Fourthly, it must not lose its effectiveness over a period and thus cease to deter abuse. I am certain that it is possible to have satisfactory glue products that would overcome the problem of glue sniffing. Indeed, a breakthrough was made by a Birmingham-based firm only last week.
I applaud the good intentions of those engaged in social work practice, police liaison and social services in Avon and parts of London, for example, and I similarly applaud the efforts of the National Campaign against Solvent Abuse, but I feel that we are fighting a losing battle against a problem which, like Topsy, is growing.
364 Health education has been pursued by all the bodies that I have mentioned, by Evode Ltd., a glue manufacturer, and by the use of posters in shops. However, with the number of deaths due to solvent abuse rising annually, education has clearly failed. It is time that Parliament acted to prevent this sad and serious problem escalating further. I believe that Government action is imminent as a result of the pressure that I have brought to bear through the Bill and in other ways, and that is warmly to be welcomed.
In a conversation with a distinguished public figure today I learnt that in a reputable store last Saturday he saw a packet of glue sold to a punk rocker aged about 13 or 14 years. When the punk rocker had gone he spoke to the assistant who had sold the glue, who appeared to be a responsible person. He said, "You should not have sold the glue." The assistant replied, "If she wants to kill herself that way, who am Ito stop her?"
Parliament can stand aside from this serious and vexed problem no longer.
Question put and agreed to.
Bill ordered to be brought in by Mr. Harry Greenway, Mr. Alistair Burt, Mr. John Carlisle, Sir Geoffrey Finsberg, Mr. Michael Hirst, Mr. Sean Hughes, Mr. Charles Kennedy, Mr. David Madel, Mr. Christopher Murphy, Mrs. Elizabeth Peacock, Mr. Reg Prentice and Mr. Roger Stott.