Volatile substance abuse: the role of agencies in the community in prevention and counselling.

1. Voluntary agencies fulfill a need by providing information on volatile substance abuse to schools, the parents/guardians of abusers and, last but by no means least, the abusers themselves. 2. Consideration of case file data from the period 1982-1987 shows that the average age of clients has dropped from 15.9 years (n = 70) to 13.3 years (n = 312) while the male:female ratio has dropped from 8:1 to 3:1. 3. In 1982, 80% of clients 'sniffed' glue but by 1987, 42% of new clients claimed to abuse butane and 23% aerosols. Of the 945 clients counselled, 41 have since suffered 'sudden sniffing death'. 4. Voluntary agencies can offer intensive, confidential counselling of abusers in an informed setting. It is hoped to extend the services provided outside the Greater London area and to provide residential care for those in need.