§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have died as a result of abuse of(a) butane gas refills and (b) other volatile substances in each year since 1997. [165759]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonStatistics, collected by St. George's Hospital Medical School on behalf of the Department, on volatile substance abuse deaths from cigarette (butane) lighter refills, and total volatile substance abuse deaths are shown in the tables.
Deaths associated with cigarette lighter refills Year Number 1997 47 1998 43 1999 43 2000 34 2001 42
Deaths by volatile substance abuse Year Number 1997 78 1998 80 1999 75 2000 65 2001 63 Source: St. George's Hospital Medical School: 16th Annual Report on Trends in Death Associated with Abuse of Volatile Substance 1971–2001—Key findings for 2001.