§ Mr. Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take urgent measures for the eradication of glue sniffing among school children and to this end if he will take steps to identify the extent of the practice, and the localities where it has been, and is, rife; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. McElhoneGlue sniffing is one of many forms of drug and solvent abuse, and I believe that in the long term these practices will be eliminated only by a comprehensive programme of health education. Much is already being achieved by the co-operation of doctors, teachers, social workers and the police. Further guidance is being considered, but we must be wary of giving unnecessary publicity to glue sniffing, which may merely attract more children to try it.
§ Mr. Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement of the effects on the physical and mental health of children who are sniffing glue.
§ Mr. Harry EwingThe immediate effect of solvent sniffing is a form of partial anaesthesia, sometimes accompanied by hallucinations, and there may also be nausea, headache, blurring of vision and diplopia for 30 or 40 minutes after inhalation. A small number of children have died from poisoning or from lack of oxygen while sniffing solvents. Liver and kidney damage of varying degrees of severity has occurred. There is also good animal experimental evidence to suggest that a number of solvents may give rise to changes in the brain.